Catalytic antibodies and a method of producing same

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed generally to catalytic antibodies and, more particularly, to a novel method of producing same. The method of the present invention is predicated in part on the exploitation of the products of catalysis to induce B cell mitogenesis. In a preferred embodiment, a growth factor having an ability to induce B cell mitogenesis is linked to a target antigen to which catalytic antibodies are sought. B cell mitogenesis is then dependent on the catalytic cleavage of the antigen portion of the growth factor by catalytic antibodies on the surface of B cells. The method of the present invention is useful for generating catalytic antibodies for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of Ser. No. 09/160,567, filedSep. 25, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,179, which is a divisional ofapplication Ser. No. 08/828,741 filed Mar. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No.6,043,069.

The present invention is directed generally to catalytic antibodies and,more particularly, to a novel method of producing same. The method ofthe present invention is predicated in part on the exploitation of theproducts of catalysis to induce B cell mitogenesis. In a preferredembodiment, a growth factor having an ability to induce B cellmitogenesis is linked to a target antigen to which catalytic antibodiesare sought. B cell mitogenesis is then dependent on the catalyticcleavage of the antigen portion of the growth factor by catalyticantibodies on the surface of B cells. The method of the presentinvention is useful for generating catalytic antibodies for boththerapeutic and diagnostic purposes.

Sequence Identity Numbers (SEQ ID NOs.) for the nucleotide and aminoacid sequences referred to in the specification are defined followingthe Examples.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise,the word “comprises”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”,will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integeror group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any otherelement or integer or group of elements or integers.

The rapidly increasing sophistication of recombinant DNA technology isgreatly facilitating research and development in the medical and alliedhealth fields. A particularly important area of research is the use ofrecombinant antigens to stimulate immune response mechanisms andoutcomes. However, until now, recombinant techniques have not beenparticularly effective in the generation of catalytic antibodies.

Catalytic antibodies are highly substrate specific catalysts which canbe used, for example, to proteolytically activate or inactivateproteins. Catalytic antibodies have great potential a therapeutic agentsin human diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS and Alzhiemer'sdisease amongst many others.

Antibody therapy is already routinely used in patients. Antibodies havea half-life of about 23 days in the circulation of humans which is aclear advantage over other drugs. Catalytic antibodies, however, areconsidered to be even more effective. They are recycled after theirantigenic encounter and are not bound to the antigen as occurs with“classical” antibodies. Catalytic antibodies should, therefore, functionat a much lower dose than classical antibodies and could be used atsub-immunogenic doses. Catalytic antibodies would be particularly usefulin long term therapy.

Traditionally, catalytic antibodies have been generated by immunisingmice with transition state analogs. Such antibodies have been shown tocatalyse several chemical reactions. However, this approach has a severelimitation in that it is difficult to predict the structure oftransition state analogs which effect proteolysis of specific proteins.Immunising a mouse with a transition state analog is by definitioninefficient since it selects B cells on the ability of surfaceimmunoglobulins to bind the analogs and not on the catalytic activity ofthe surface immunoglobulins. This is one of the reasons why catalyticantibodies have relatively low turn-over rates and cannot compete withthe naturally occurring enzyme counterparts. As a consequence, catalyticantibodies have not previously achieved prominence as therapeutic ordiagnostic tools.

There is a need, therefore, to develop a more efficacious approach togenerating catalytic antibodies having desired catalytic specificity. Inaccordance with the present invention, the inventors have developed suchan approach based on a recombinant or a synthetic growth factor havingan ability to induce B cell mitogenesis. A precursor form of the growthfactor selects “catalytic” B cells. The present invention provides,therefore, for the exploitation of the products of catalysis for B cellactivation which may and can be antigen binding site independent.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is directed to arecombinant or synthetic growth factor or a precursor thereof comprisinga B cell surface molecule binding portion wherein said growth factor ora catalytic product of said precursor is capable of inducing B cellmitogenesis.

More particularly, the present invention provides a recombinant orsynthetic growth factor comprising a B cell surface molecule bindingportion wherein said growth factor induces B cell mitogenesis.

In one aspect of the present invention, the recombinant or syntheticgrowth factor comprises a B cell surface molecule binding portion and aportion providing T cell dependent help for a B cell such that saidgrowth factor induces B cell mitogenesis.

In another aspect, the portion providing T cell dependent help for a Bcell is supplied independently of the growth factor. An example of anexogenously supplied portion having T cell dependent help for a B cellis anti-CD40 antibodies or functional equivalents thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the B cell surface moleculebinding portion comprises a B cell surface immunoglobulin bindingportion although the present invention extends to a range of B cellsurface molecules the binding, interaction and/or cross-linking thereofleads to or facilitates B cell mitogenesis. Reference hereinafter to a“B cell surface molecule” includes reference to a B cell surfaceimmunoglobulin. The portion providing T cell dependent help for a B cellis preferably but not exclusively a T cell epitope. Referencehereinafter to a portion providing T cell dependent help for a B cellincludes a T cell epitope.

The present invention further contemplates a composition of mattercapable of inducing B cell mitogenesis said composition of mattercomprising components selected from:

(i) a recombinant or synthetic molecule comprising a B cell surfacemolecule binding portion;

(ii) a recombinant or synthetic molecule in multimeric form comprising aB cell surface molecule binding surface molecule binding portion;

(iii) a recombinant or synthetic molecule of (i) or comprising a furtherportion providing T cell dependent help for a B cell; and

(iv) separate compositions mixed prior to use or used sequentially orsimultaneously comprising in a first composition a component having a Bcell surface molecule binding portion and in a second composition amolecule capable of providing T cell dependent help for a B cell.

Preferably, the molecule capable of providing T cell dependent help fora B cell is a T cell epitope or is an anti-CD40 antibody or functionalequivalents thereof.

Preferably, to ensure cross-liking of B cell surface molecules to induceblastogenesis, the growth factor comprises at least two B cell surfacemolecule binding portions. Alternatively, where the growth factor ispresent in multimeric form, the molecule may comprise a single B cellsurface molecule binding portion.

Even more preferably, the growth factor comprises a T cell epitopeportion flanked by, adjacent to or proximal with at least one B cellsurface molecule-binding portion. The presentation of a T cell epitopeon the surface of a B cell allows for B cell mitogenesis. The term “Bcell mitogenesis” is used herein in its broadest context and includes Bcell activation, clonal expansion, affinity maturation and/or antibodysecretion as well as growth and differentiation. The term “mitogenic” asused herein means “mitogenesis”.

In another embodiment, the recombinant or synthetic growth factorcomprises a further portion permitting multimerisation of the growthfactor. A multimer comprises two or more growth factor molecules or aprecursor thereof. Examples of portions inducing multimerisation includebut are not limited to an antibody, a region facilitating formation ofcross-linked molecules or a signal peptide. Cross-linkage in thiscontext includes any interaction that provides bonding adequate to leadto multimer formation including but not limited to covalent linkage,ionic linkage, lattice association, ionic bridges, salt bridges andnon-specific molecular association. A particularly preferred embodimentof the present invention is directed to the use of a signal peptide suchas the signal peptide of the Outer Membrane Portion A (ompA) [Skerra,Gene, 151: 131-135, 1994] or a functional derivative thereof A“functional derivative” in this context is a mutant or derivative of theompA signal peptide (or its functional equivalent) which still permitsmultimer formation of the growth factor.

In a preferred embodiment, where the B cell surface molecule is animmunoglobulin, the B cell surface binding portion of the growth factorgenerally binds to part of an immunoglobulin such as the variableportion of a heavy or light chain of an immunoglobulin.

An example of an immunoglobulin binding molecule is protein L fromPeptostreptococcus magnus. Protein L has five immunoglobulin-bindingdomains. Other immunoglobulin binding molecules include protein A,protein G and protein H. The present invention, however, extends to anymolecule capable of binding to a B cell surface component including, forexample, a ligand of a B cell receptor.

The portion of the recombinant or synthetic molecule defining a T cellepitope is presented to a preferably already primed T cell to induce Bcell proliferation and affinity maturation of an antibody in thegerminal centre. This is generally accompanied by immunoglobulin classswitching and antibody secretion into the serum. Generally, the T cellepitope is internalised within the B cell and presented on majorhistocompatbility complex (MHC) class II.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the T cell epitope is from henegg lysozyme (HEL) [Altavia et al, Molecular Immunology, 31: 1-19, 1994]or is a derivative thereof such as a peptide comprising no acids 42 to62 from HEL or a homologue or analog thereof. This T cell epitope isrecognised by the T cell receptor (TCR) of HEL specific T cells whenpresented by an antigen presenting cell (APC) on the MHC class IImolecule H-2A^(κ) in mice or other MHC class II molecules or theirequivalents in other mammals such as humans. Examples of other T cellepitopes include but are not limited to tetanus toxoid, ovalbumin,malarial antigens as well as other regions of HEL. One skilled in theart would readily be able to select an appropriate T cell epitope.

In an alternative embodiment, the portion providing T cell dependenthelp of a B cell is not a T cell epitope in the classical sense but isnevertheless able to function in a similar manner. An example of such aportion is an anti-CD40 antibody.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a recombinant orsynthetic molecule having the structure:

X₁X₂X₃

wherein:

X₁ and X₃ may be the same or different and each is a B cell surfacemolecule binding entity;

X₂ is a portion providing T cell dependent help for a B cell; andwherein the recombinant or synthetic molecule is capable of inducing Tcell dependent B cell mitogenesis of the B cell which X₁ and X₃ bind.

The representation X₁X₂X₃ is not to be taken as imposing any sequentialconstraints and the present invention covers any sequence comprising theelements X₁X₂X₃ such as X₁X₃X₂, X₃X₂X₁, X₂X₃X₁, X₂X₁X₃, and X₃X₁X₂.

The present invention further provides a recombinant or syntheticmolecule having the structure:

X₁X₂X₃

wherein:

X₁ and X₃ may be the same or different and each is a B cell surfaceimmunoglobulin binding entity;

X₂ is a T cell epitope; and

wherein the recombinant or synthetic molecule is capable of inducing Tcell dependent B cell mitogenesis of the B cell to which X₁ and X₃ bind.

The present invention yet further provides a recombinant or syntheticmolecule having the structure:

 MX₁[X₂]_(b)

wherein:

X₁ is a B cell surface molecule binding entity such as a B cell surfaceimmunoglobulin binding entity;

X₂ is a portion providing T cell dependent help for a B cell;

M is a portion enabling or facilitating multimer formation of therecombinant or synthetic molecule; and

b represents the number of X₂ molecules and may be 0, 1 or >1.

An example of M is a signal peptide such as from ompA. The multimericeffect of M is to provide a molecule [MX₁[X₂]_(b)]_(k) where M, X₁, X₂and b are as defined above and k is 1 or >1. An example of k is fromabout 2 to about 1000 and more preferably from above >1 to about 50-200.

The optional nature of X₂ may alternatively relate to X₁. The molecularcomponents of MX₁[X₂]_(b) may be in any order.

Preferably, but not exclusively X₁ is derived from the L protein from P.magnus.

Preferably, X₂ is a T cell epitope derived from HEL such as but notlimited to amino acids 42 to 62 from HEL. In an alternative embodiment,where b=0 X₂ is not a T cell epitope and is exogenously suppliedfacilitating T cell dependent help for a B cell. In this case, X₂ maybe, for example, an anti-CD40 antibody.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, X₁X₂X₃ as defined above isreferred to herein as “LHL” where L is an immunoglobulin binding entityfrom L protein from P. magnus and H corresponds to amino acids 42 to 62from HEL or an equivalent thereof. The nucleotide and amino acidsequences of LHL are shown in SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, respectively.

The present invention extends to a growth factor or precursor thereofhaving the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or an amino acidsequence having at least 60% similarity thereto (excluding the aminoacid sequence of an antigen) or an amino acid sequence encoded bynucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or a nucleotide sequencecapable of hybridizing to SEQ ID NO:1 under low stringency conditions.

Reference herein to a low stringency at 42° C. includes and encompassesfrom at least about 1% v/v to at least about 15% v/v formanide and fromat least about 1M to at least about 2M salt for hybridisation, and atleast about 1M to at least about 2M salt for washing conditions,Alternative stringency conditions may be applied where necessary, suchas medium stringency, which includes and encompasses from at least about16% v/v to at least about 30% v/v formamide and from at least about 0.5Mto at least about 0.9M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 0.5Mto at least about 0.9M salt for washing conditions, or high stringency,which includes and encompasses from at least about 31% v/v to at leastabout 50% v/v formamide and from at least about 0.01M to at leas. about0.15M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 0.01M to at least about0.15M salt for washing conditions.

The two “L” domains from protein L linked by the “H” domain from HELbuild the growth factor LHL which crosslinks the surface immunoglobulinon B cells. This cross-linking induces B cell activation and blastformation, The internalisation and processing of LHL leads to thepresentation of H on MHC II. T cell recognition of MHC II with the Hpeptide signals the activated B cell to proliferate and undergo antibodyclass switching and secretion.

The mitogenic growth factor of the present invention is most useful ingenerating antibodies of desired catalytic specificity when in aprecursor form which selects “catalytic” B cells. A precursor growthfactor comprises a target antigen to which a catalytic antibody issought and which mask antigen-independent clonal expansion of B cells.Upon cleavage of the antigen by a selected B cell surfaceimmunoglobulin, the growth factor can induce B cell mitogenesis.

In effect, then B cells are selected on the catalytic activity of theirsurface immunoglobulin rather than on their binding to a transitionstate analog. This allows for affinity maturation in the germinalcentres and ensures “catalytic-maturation” to obtain the highestenzymatic turn-over rate possible in vivo. This aspect of the presentinvention is achieved by designing a B cell growth factor precursorcomprising X₁X₂X₃ as defined above, such as LHL, shielded andsubstantially inactive until released through cleavage by a catalyticantibody on a B cell surface. The term “cleavage” in this context is notlimiting to the breaking of bonds but includes interaction adequate toremove or reduce shielding of the B cell growth factor.

The liberated X₁X₂X₃activates the catalytic B cell by crosslinking the Bcell surface molecules such B cell surface immunoglobulins via the X₁X₃domains. X₁X₂X₃ is then internalised and processed analogous to a normalantigen. Intracellular processing generates the T cell epitope X₂incorporated in X₁X₂X₃. The presentation of X₂ on the B cell surfaceleads to T cell dependent clonal expansion of the B cell as well ascatalytic maturation and secretion of the catalytic antibody. Thecatalytic antibodies can then be detected in serum and catalytic B cellscan be recovered by standard techniques.

According to this aspect of the present invention, there is provided arecombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor comprising an antigenlinked or otherwise associated with a growth factor capable of inducingB cell mitogenesis, wherein the products of catalysis of said growthfactor precursor permit B cell mitogenesis which may and can be antigenbinding site independent.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda recombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor comprising an antigenlinked to or otherwise associated with a B cell surface binding moleculeportion and a portion providing T cell dependent help to a B cell suchthat upon cleavage of said antigen or of a region proximal to saidantigen, said B cell surface molecule portion and said T cell dependenthelp portion form a growth factor which induces B cell mitogenesis.

Preferably, the present invention is directed to a recombinant orsynthetic growth factor precursor comprising an antigen linked to orotherwise associated with a B cell surface immunoglobulin bindingportion and a T cell epitope portion such that upon cleavage of saidantigen or of a region proximal to said antigen, said B cell surfaceimmunoglobulin and T cell epitope form a growth factor having B cellmitogenic properties.

In an alternative embodiment, the present invention provides arecombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor comprising an antigenlinked to or otherwise associated with a B cell surface molecule bindingportion and a portion conferring a multimeric form of said growth factorprecursor when cleavage of said antigen or of a region proximal to saidantigen provides a growth factor comprising a B cell surface moleculebinding portion having the ability to induce B cell mitogenesis.

The antigen according to this aspect of the present invention is anyantigen to which a catalytic antibody is sought. Examples includecytokines such as but not limited to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), aninterleukin (IL) such as IL-1 to IL-15, interferons (IFN) such as IFNα,IFNβ or IFNγ, colony-stimulating factors (CSF) such as granulocytecolony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophasecolony-stimulation factor (GM-CSF), blood factors such as Factor VIII,erythropoietin and haemopoietin, cancer antigens, docking receptors frompathogenic viruses such as HIV, influenza virus or a hepatitis virus(eg. HEP A, HEP B, HEP C or HEP E) and amyloid plaques such as inAlzheimer's disease patients or myeloma patients. More particularly, inthe case of TNF, proteolytic inactivation of TNF would be useful in thetreatment of rheumatoid arthritis and toxic shock syndrome. By targetingviral docking receptors, pathogenic viruses such as HIV, hepatitisviruses and influenza viruses are rendered effectively inactive.Catalytic antibodies will also be useful in the clearance of amyloidplaques in Alheimer's disease or myeloma disease patients. TargetingIgE, for example, may provide a mechanism for treating inflammatoryconditions such as asthma.

The catalytic antibodies of the present invention may also be useful indetoxifying drugs such as drugs consumed by an individual. For example,the effects of cannabis or heroin or other drugs could be treated in anindividual by the administration of catalytic antibodies directed to theactive components of those drugs. Furthermore, catalytic antibodies maybe useful in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseaseconditions such as by targeting autoimmune antibodies. Catalyticantibodies also have a use in environmental situations and could bedirected to environmental pollutants such as petroleum products andplastics. In all these situations, suitable antigens would be selectedand incorporated into the growth factor precursor of the presentinvention.

In a related aspect of the present invention, the “antigen” portion ofthe growth factor precursor can be mimiced by a target site such as anamino acid linker sequence comprising a protease cleavage site. Examplesinclude an amino acid linker sequence comprising the tabacco etch virus(TEV) protease cleavage site More particularly, in the case of a TEVprotease cleavage site, cleaving of the amino acid linker sequence bythe TEV protease would be useful for producing characteristics similarto those of a catalytic antibody. This provides a useful model systemfor developing growth factor molecules.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a recombinant orsynthetic molecule having the structure:

AX₁X₂X₃A

wherein

A is a target antigen for which a catalytic antibody is sought;

X₁ and X₃ may be the same or different and each is a B cell surfacemolecule binding entity;

X₂ is a portion providing T cell dependent help for a catalytic B cell;

wherein a catalytic antibody on the surface of said B cell is capable ofcleaving all or part of A from said recombinant or synthetic moleculeresulting in the molecule [A′]X₁X₂X₃[A′] wherein A′ is optionallypresent and is a portion of A after cleavage with the catalytic antibodyand wherein said resulting molecule is capable of inducing T celldependent clonal expansion of the B cell to which X₁ and X₃ bind.

The AX₁X₂X₃A molecule may be in any sequence order.

Anther aspect of the present invention is directed to a recombitant orsynthetic molecule having the structure:

[M]_(c)AX₁[X₂]_(d)[X₃]_(e)A[M]_(f)

wherein:

A is a target antigen for which a catalytic antibody is sought;

X₁ and X₃ may be the same or different and each is a B cell surfacemolecule binding entity;

X₂ is a portion providing T cell dependent help for a B cell;

M is a portion enabling or facilitating multimer formation of therecombinant or synthetic molecule;

c and f may be the same or different and each is 0, 1 or >1;

e is 0 or 1 with the proviso then if both c and f are 0 then e cannot be0;

d is 0 or 1 or >1;

wherein a catalytic antibody on the surface of said B cell is capable ofcleaving all or a portion of A from said recombinant or syntheticmolecule and a resulting catalytic product is capable of inducing B cellmitogenesis.

The growth factor precursor enables an antigen to be recognised by a Bcell via a growth factor capable of inducing B cell mitogenesis. Theantigen effectively masks B cell activation without prior catalyticactivation. The growth factor is in “precursor” form, therefore, untilcleavage of all or part of the antigen. A further masking may also beprovided by molecules capable of binding to or otherwise associatingwith the B cell surface molecule binding domains of the B cell surfacemolecule binding portion. Examples of suitable masking molecules includebut are not limited to the variable portion of a kappa or lambda lightchain of an immunoglobulin.

Alternatively, a fragment comprising a variable heavy and light chain(Fv) may be employed which is preferably but not exclusively a singlechain (sc) and/or disulfide stabilized (ds). The nucleotide andcorresponding amino acid sequences for the variable portion of kappalight chain are shown in SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:11, respectively.

Notwithstanding that the abovementioned immunoglobulin portions areusefull molecules for blocking B cell surface immunoglobulin bindingdomains, other molecules may also be used. For example, natural productscreening would very readily identify molecules from natural sourcessuch as coral, soil, plants, ocean beds, marine invertebrates or fromother convenient sources which would bind to immunoglobulin bindingdomains of L protein or other B cell surface binding molecules.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the recombinant or syntheticgrowth factor precursor substantially prevents binding of X₁ and X₃ totheir cognate B cell surface molecules thereby preventing B cellactivation by having immunoglobulin peptides or chemical equivalentsthereof or other B cell surface molecule blocking reagents linked, fusedor otherwise associated with the growth factor to facilitate masking ofthe B cell activating effects of the growth factor. In a particularlypreferred embodiment, the precursor comprises an antigen to which acatalytic antibody is sought and portions capable or masking the B cellsurface molecule binding domains of the B cell surface molecule bindingportion or the growth factor. The precursor may contain variable kappaor lambda light chain domains or an sc-ds-Fv molecule or maskingmolecules detected following natural product screening.

Generally, the immunoglobulin molecules which bind to the B cell surfaceimmunoglobulin binding portion as a growth factor are linked to theN-terminal and C-terminal portions respectively of the antigen flankingthe growth factor. For example, one particularly preferred embodiment ofthe present invention provides a growth factor precursor comprising thestructure:

I′AX₁X₂X₃AI″

wherein:

I′ and I″ are optionally present and may be the same or different andeach is a blocking reagent for X₁ and X₃ such as a kappa or lambda lightchain or a sc-ds-Fv molecule;

A is the target antigen for which a catalytic antibody is sought;

X₁ and X₃ are B cell surface molecule binding entities; and

X₂ is an entity providing T cell dependent help to a B cell.

Wherein a catalytic antibody on the surface of said B cell is capable ofcleaving all or part of A from said recombinant or synthetic moleculeresulting in the molecule [A′]X₁X₂X₃[A′] wherein A′ is optionallypresent and is a portion of A after cleavage with the catalytic antibodywherein said resulting molecule is capable of inducing T cell dependentB cell mitogenesis of the B cell to which X₁ and X₃ bind.

The molecular components of I′AX₁X₂X₃AI″ may be in any sequence order.

The present invention extends to X₁ and X₃ being any B cell surfacemolecule binding molecules and components I′ and II″ block or mask thebinding of such molecules to the B cell surface molecules.

In another embodiment the I′A X₁X₂X₃A I″ molecule or part thereof may bein multimeric form, This is particularly the case when all or part ofthe molecule includes a multimerisation component (M) such as but notlimited to the signal peptide of ompA. The monomeric units may be boundor otherwise associated together by any number of binding means such ascontemplated above including covalent bonding, salt bridges, disulfidebridges and hydrophobic interactions amongst many others. Depending onthe extent of multimerisation, this may impair the masking ability of Bcell surface molecule binding domains of the growth factor and someantigen-independent clonal expansion may occur. This may not be toodisadvantageous where there is at least some catalytic antibodydependent B cell mitogenesis.

According to this embodiment, there is provided a growth factorprecursor comprising the structure:

[I′AX₁[X₂′]_(o)[X₂X₃AI″]_(n)]_(m)

wherein:

I′ and I″ may be the same or different and each is a blocking reagentfor X₁ and X₃ such as a kappa or lambda light chain or an sc-ds-Fv;

A is the target antigen for which a catalytic antibody is sought;

X₁ and X₃ are B cell surface molecule binding entities;

X₂ and X₂′ may be the same or different and each is an entity capable orproviding T cell dependent help for a B cell;

o may be 0or 1;

n indicates the multimeric nature of the component in parentheses andmay be 0, 1 or >1;

m indicates the multimeric nature of the component in parenthesis andmay be 1 or >1.

Preferably, n and m are each from about 1 to about 10,000 morepreferably from about 1 to about 1,000 and still more preferably fromabout 1 to about 200.

Preferably, if n is 0, then o is 1.

In alternative embodiments, the growth factor precursor comprises thestructure [[I′AX₂X₃]_(n)[X₂′]_(o)[X₁AI″]_(m) or[[I′AX₁[X₂′]_(o)]_(n)[X₂X₃AI″]_(m)].

The exact number ascribed to n and m may not be ascertainable but themultimeric nature identified functionally or physically by size (eg.determined using HPLC or PAGE).

Examples of A include but are not limited to those hereinbeforedescribed.

The present invention extends to the substitution of a non-antigencleavage site such as a protease sensitive peptide which provides auseful model for designing growth factor molecules.

An exemplified growth actor precursor of the present invention isreferred to herein as “CATAB” and comprises a TNF flanked LHL with thevariable region from a kappa and/or lambda light chain further maskingthe B surface immunoglobulin binding domain of the L molecules.

In another embodiment, the growth factor precursor mimics a CATAB beingactivatable by means other than or in addition to a catalytic antibody.For example, an enzyme sensitive molecule may be the “antigen”. In oneembodiment, the CATAB mimic is referred to herein as “TLHL” andcomprises a variable kappa light chain linked to the N-terminus of anamino acid linker sequence comprising the TEV protease cleavage sitewhich is in turn linked to LHL. The nucleotide and amino acid sequencesfor TLHL are shown in SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6. In anotherembodiment, the TLHL further comprises another amino acid linkersequence comprising the TEV protease cleavage site and a variable kappalight chain linked to the C-terminus of the latter amino acid linkersequence and is referred to herein as CATAB-TEV. The nucleotide sequenceand corresponding amino acid sequence of CATAB is shown in SEQ ID NO:3and SEQ ID NO:4, respectively.

The present invention extends to a growth factor precursor comprising asequence of amino acids selected from:

(i) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 or having at least60% similarity thereto (excluding the amino acid sequence of anantigen);

(ii) an amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence set forthin SEQ ID NO:3 or a nucleotide sequence having at least 60% similarityto the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3;

(iii) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence capable ofhybridizing to SEQ ID NO:3 under low stringency conditions whereincatalytic properties of said growth factor precursor are capable ofinducing B cell mitogenesis.

The variable kappa light chain portions may conveniently be derived fromthe Bence Jones protein LEN, which has been shown to bind to certainimmunoglobulin binding proteins such as L. Alternatively, an Fv may beused such as a sc-ds-Fv.

Upon cleavage of the growth factor precursor CATAB by a catalyticantibody recognising the antigen (for example, a TNF peptide portion),the covalent linkage between the L domains and the variable kappa lightchains is broken. The blocking variable kappa light chains willdissociate from the L domains due to the relatively low affinity(˜10⁻⁷M) of individual domains for each other. This will release themature growth factor LHL which can bind to and crosslink the surfaceimmunoglobulin with an affinity of 10⁻⁹M. A similar mechanism operateswhere molecules other than variable kappa light chains, TNF, L and H areemployed.

This B cell surface immunoglobulin crosslinking activates the B cell andinduces the down stream events that lead to catalytic maturation andsecretion of the catalytic antibody. Catalytic antibodies can bedetected in the serum using any number of procedures such as ELISA basedassays and catalytic B cells may be recovered with standard hybridomatechnology. Where the catalytic antibodies are from non-human animals,these can be humanised by recombinant DNA technology and produced fortherapeutical applications in humans. Alternatively, the antibodies maybe generated in a “humanized” animal such as a humanized mouse which istransgenic for the human Ig loci.

The present invention contemplates derivatives of the growth factorand/or its precursor. A derivative includes a mutant, part, fragment,portion, homologue or analogue of the growth factor and/or precursor orany components thereof. Derivatives to amino acid sequences includesingle or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or additions.For example, derivatives of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ED NO:4 include sequenceshaving at least 60% similarity thereto (excluding amino acid sequence ofantigen) or which are encoded by a nucleotide sequence capable ofhybridizing in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3 under low stringencyconditions.

Particularly useful derivatives include chemical analogues of the growthfactor and/or its precursor or components thereof. Such chemicalanalogues may be useful in stabilizing the molecule for therapeutic ordiagnostic use.

Analogues of the growth factor precursor contemplated herein include,but are not limited to, modification to side chains, incorporating ofunnatural amino acids and/or their derivatives during peptide,polypeptide or protein synthesis and the use of crosslinkers and othermethods which impose conformational constraints on the proteinaceousmolecule or their analogues.

Examples of side chain modifications contemplated by the presentinvention include modifications of amino groups such as by reductivealkylation by reaction with an aldehyde followed by reduction withNaBH₄; amidination with methylacetimidate; acylation with aceticanhydride; carbamoylation of amino groups with cyanate;trinitrobenzylation of amino groups with 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS); acylation of amino groups with succinic anhydrideand tetrahydrophthalic anhydride; and pyridoxylation of lysine withpyridoxal-5-phosphate followed by reduction with NaBH₄.

The guanidine group of arginine residues may be modified by theformation of heterocyclic condensation products with reagents such as2,3-butanedione, phenylglyoxal and glyoxal.

The carboxyl group may be modified by carbodiimide activation viaO-acylisourea formation followed by subsequent derivitisation, forexample, to a corresponding amide.

Sulphydryl groups may be modified by methods such as carboxymethylationwith iodoacetic acid or iodoacetamide; performic acid oxidation tocysteic acid; formation of a mixed disulphides with other thiolcompounds; reaction with maleimide, maleic anhydride or othersubstituted maleimide; formation of mercurial derivatives using4-chloromercuribenzoate, 4-chloromercuriphenylsulphonic acid,phenylmercury chloride, 2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol and othermercurials; carbamoylation with cyanate at alkaline pH.

Tryptophan residues may be modified by, for example, oxidation withN-bromosuccinimide or alkylation of the indole ring with2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide or sulphenyl halides. Tyrosine residueson the other hand, may be altered by nitration with tetranitromethane toform a 3-nitrotyrosine derivative.

Modification of the imidazole ring of a histidine residue may beaccomplished by alkylation with iodoacetic acid derivatives orN-carbethoxylation with diethylpyrocarbonate.

Examples of incorporating unnatural amino acids and derivatives duringpeptide synthesis include, but are not limited to, use of norleucine,4-amino butyric acid, 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic acid,6-aminohexanoic acid, t-butylglycine, norvaline, phenylglycine,ornithine, sarcosine, 4-amino-3-hydroxy-6-methylheptanoic acid,2-thienyl alanine and/or D-isomers of amino acids. A list of unnaturalamino acid, contemplated herein is shown in Table 1.

Crosslinkers can be used, for example, to stabilise 3D conformations,using homo-bifunctional crosslinkers such as the bifunctional imidoesters having (CH₂)_(n) spacer groups with n=1 to n=6, glutaraldehyde,N-hydroxysuccinimide esters and hetero-bifunctional reagents whichusually contain an amino-reactive moiety such as N-hydroxysuccinimideand another group specific-reactive moiety such as maleimido or dithiomoiety (SH) or carbodiimide (COOH). In addition, peptides can beconformationally constrained by, for example, incorporation of C_(α) andN_(α)-methylamino acids, introduction of double bonds between C_(α) andC_(β) atoms of amino acids and the formation of cyclic peptides oranalogues by introducing covalent bonds such as forming an amide bondbetween the N and C termini, between two side chains or between a sidechain and the N or C terminus.

The present invention further contemplates chemical analogues of thegrowth factor and/or its precursor capable of acting as antagonists oragonists of same. These may be useful in controlling the immunologicalresponse. Chemical analogues may not necessarily be derived from thegrowth factor precursor but may share certain conformationalsimilarities. Alternatively, chemical analogues may be specificallydesigned to mimic certain physiochemical properties of the growth factorprecursor. Chemical analogues may be chemically synthesised or may bedetected following, for example, natural product screening of, forexample, coral, soil, plants, microorganisms, marine invertebrates orseabeds.

TABLE 1 Non-conventional Non-conventional amino acid Code amino acidCode α-aminobutyric acid Abu L-N-methylalanine Nmalaα-amino-α-methylbutyrate Mgabu L-N-methylarginine Nmargaminocyclopropane- Cpro L-N-methylasparagine Nmasn carboxylateL-N-methylaspartic acid Nmasp aminoisobutyric acid AibL-N-methylcysteine Nmcys aminonorbornyl- Norb L-N-methylglutamine Nmgincarboxylate L-N-methylglutamic acid Nmglu cyclohexylalanine ChexaL-N-methylhistidine Nmhis cyclopentylalanine Cpen L-N-methylisolleucineNmile D-alanine Dal L-N-methylleucine Nmleu D-arginine DargL-N-methyllysine Nmlys D-aspartic acid Dasp L-N-methylmethionine NmetD-cysteine Dcys L-N-methylnorleucine Nmnle D-glutamine DglnL-N-methylnorvaline Nmnva D-giutamic acid Dglu L-N-methylornithine NmornD-histidine Dhis L-N-methylphenylalanine Nmphe D-isoleucine DileL-N-methylproline Nmpro D-leucine Dleu L-N-methylserine Nmser D-lysineDlys L-N-methylthreonine Nmthr D-methionine Dmet L-N-methyltryptophanNmtrp D-ornithine Dorn L-N-methyltyrosine Nmtyr D-phenylalanine DpheL-N-methylvaline Nmval D-proline Dpro L-N-methylethylglycine NmetgD-serine Dser L-N-methyl-t-butylglycine Nmtbug D-threonine DthrL-norleucine Nle D-tryptophan Dtrp L-norvaline Nva D-tyrosine Dtyrα-methyl-aminoisobutyrate Maib D-valine Dval α-methyl-γ-aminobutyrateMgabu D-α-methylalanine Dmala α-methylcyclohexylaianine MchexaD-α-methylarginine Dmarg α-methylcylcopentylalanine McpenD-α-methylasparagine Dmasn α-methyl-α-napthylalanine ManapD-α-methylaspartate Dmasp α-methylpenicillamine Mpen D-α-methylcysteineDmcys N-(4-aminobutyl)glycine Nglu D-α-methylglutamine DmglnN-(2-aminoethyl)glycine Naeg D-α-methylhistidine DmhisN-(3-aminopropyl)glycine Norn D-α-methylisoleucine DmileN-amino-α-methylbutyrate Nmaabu D-α-methylleucine Dmleu α-napthylaianineAnap D-α-methyllysine Dmlys N-benzylglycine Nphe D-α-methylmethionineDmmet N-(2-carbamylethyl)glycine Ngln D-α-methylornithine DmornN-(carbamylmethyl)glycine Nasn D-α-methylphenylalanine DmpheN-(2-carboxyethyl)glycine Nglu D-α-methylproline DmproN-(carboxymethyl)glycine Nasp D-α-methylserine Dmser N-cyclobutylglycineNcbut D-α-methylthreonine Dmthr N-cycloheptylglycine NchepD-α-methyltryptophan Dmtrp N-cyclohexylglycine Nchex D-α-methyltyrosineDmty N-cyclodecylglycine Ncdec D-α-methylvaline DmvalN-cylcododecylglycine Ncdod D-N-methylalanine Dnmala N-cyclooctylglycineNcoct D-N-methylarginine Dnmarg N-cyclopropylglycine NcproD-N-methylasparagine Dnmasn N-cycloundecylglycine NcundD-N-methylaspartate Dnmasp N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)glycine NbhmD-N-methylcysteine Dnmcys N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)glycine NbheD-N-methylglutamine Dnmgln N-(3-guaniduiopropyl)glycine NargD-N-methylglutamate Dnmglu N-(1-hydroxyethyl)glycine NthrD-N-methylhistidine Dnmhis N-(hydroxyethyl))glycine NserD-N-methylisoleucine Dnmile N-(imidazolylethyl))glycine NhisD-N-methylleucine Dnmleu N-(3-indolylyethyl)glycine NhtrpD-N-methyllysine Dnmlys N-methyl-γ-aminobutyrate NmgabuN-methylcyclohexylalanine Nmchexa D-N-methylmethionine DnmmetD-N-methylornithine Dnmorn N-methylcyclopentylalanine NmcpenN-methylglycine Nala D-N-methylphenylalanine DnmpheN-methylaminoisobutyrate Nmaib D-N-methylproline DnmproN-(1-methylpropyl)glycine Nile D-N-methylserine DnmserN-(2-methylpropyl)glycine Nleu D-N-methylthreonine DnmthrD-N-methyltryptophan Dnmtrp N-(1-methylethyl)glycine NvalD-N-methyltyrosine Dnmtyr N-methyla-napthyialanine NmanapD-N-methylvaiine Dnmval N-methylpenicillamine Nmpen γ-aminobutyric acidGabu N-(1-hydroxyphenyl)glycine Nhtyr L-t-butylglycine TbugN-(thiomethyl)glycine Ncys L-ethylglycine Etg penicillamine PenL-homophenylalanine Hphe L-α-methylalanine Mala L-α-methylarginine MargL-α-methylasparagiine Masn L-α-methylaspartate MaspL-α-methyl-t-butylglycine Mtbug L-α-methylcysteine McysL-methylethylglycine Metg L-α-methylglutamine Mgln L-α-methylglutamateMglu L-α-methylhistidine Mhis L-α-methylhomophenylalanine MhpheL-α-methylisoleucine Mile N-(2-methylthioethyl)glycine NmetL-α-methylleucine Mleu L-α-methyllysine Mlys L-α-methylmethionine MmetL-α-methylnorleucine Mnle L-α-methylnorvaline Mnva L-α-methylomithineMorn L-α-methylphenylalanie Mphe L-α-methylproline Mpro L-α-methylserieMser L-α-methylthreonine Mthr L-α-methyltryptophan MtrpL-α-methy1tyrosine Mtyr L-α-methylvaline MvaiL-N-methylhomophenylalanine Nmhphe N-(N-(2,2-diphenylethyl) NnbhmN-(N-(3,3-(diphenylpropyl) Nnbhe carbamylmethyl)glycinecarbamylmethyl)glycine 1-carboxy-1-(2,2-diphenyl-Nmbcethylamino)cyclopropane

Other derivatives contemplated by the present invention include a rangeof glycosylation variants from a completely unglycosylated molecule to amodified glycosylated molecule. Altered glycosylation patterns mayresult from expression of recombinant molecules in different host cells.

The growth factor and growth factor precursor of the present inventionmay be produced by recombinant DNA means or by chemical syntheticprocesses. With respect to the former this aspect of the presentinvention provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence ofnucleotides encoding a B cell immunoglobulin binding peptide orpolypeptide and a T cell epitope.

Generally, the nucleic acid molecule encodes a fusion moleculecomprising a B cell immunoglobulin binding peptide or polypeptide and aT cell epitope. In this regard, the nucleic acid molecule wouldgenerally comprise a promoter region with the B cell immunoglobulinbinding peptide or polypeptide encoding portion operably linked theretoand the T cell epitope portion operably linked to the 3′ end thereof.Expression of the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention leadsto synthesis of a fusion molecule. In a preferred embodiment the nucleicacid molecule further encodes an antigenic portion and optionally animmunoglobulin portion such as a variable kappa light chain. In somecircumstances, purification of one or more recombinant componentsresults in all or a portion of the signal peptide for the ompA or othercarrier molecule for the microbial host in which the recombinantmolecule is made. This may facilitate multimerisation. In a particularlypreferred embodiment of the present invention, the nucleic acid moleculecomprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ IDNO:3 or is a sequence capable of hybridizing thereto under lowstringency conditions wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a growthfactor precursor as hereinbefore described.

Still a further aspect of the present invention extends to a method forproducing catalytic antibodies to a specific antigen, said methodcomprising administering to an animal an effective amount of a growthfactor precursor comprising an antigen capable of interacting with a Bcell bound catalytic antibody said antigen linked to or otherwiseassociate with a B cell surface molecule binding portion and a portioncapable of providing T cell dependent help to a B cell. The growthfactor precursor may also comprise a B cell surface molecule bindingportion masking entity such as a variable kappa light chain linked tothe antigen.

Alternatively, the growth factor precursor may comprise a B cell surfacemolecule binding portion in multimeric form linked to an antigen forwhich a target antibody is sought. The portion providing T celldependent help is preferably a T cell epitope and is preferably part ofthe precursor. However, it may be a separate entity administeredsimultaneously or sequentially to an animal.

The present invention also provides catalytic antibodies produced by theabove method. The catalytic antibodies are in effect specific to ordirected against A of the above formulae. Such catalytic antibodies,therefore, may be directed to any antigen such as but not limited to acytokine such as but not limited to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), aninterleukin (IL) such as IL-1 to IL-15, interferons (IFN) such as IFNα,IFNβ or IFNγ, colony-stimulating factors (CSF) such as granulocytecolony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), ganulocyte-macrophasecolony-stimulation factor (GM-CSF), blood factors such as Factor VIII,erythropoietin and haemopoietin, cancer antigens, docking receptors frompathogenic viruses such as HIV, influenza virus or a hepatitis virus(eg. HEP A, HEP B, HEP C or HEP E) and amyloid plaques such as inAlzheimer's disease patients or myeloma patients.

The catalytic antibodies of the present invention have particulartherapeutic and diagnostic uses especially in relation to mammalian andmore particularly human disease conditions.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising a growth factor precursor or a derivative thereofand optionally a modulator of growth factor precursor activity and oneor more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents. Moreparticularly, the pharmaceutical composition comprises catalyticantibodies generated by the growth factor precursor of the presentinvention. These components are hereinafter referred to as the “activeingredients”.

The pharmaceutical forms suitable for injectable use include sterileaqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterilepowders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectablesolutions or dispersion or may be in the form of a cream or other formsuitable for topical application. It must be stable under the conditionsof manufacture and storage and must be preserved against thecontaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Thecarrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example,water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol andliquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof,and vegetable oils. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example,by the use of a coating such as licithin, by the maintenance of therequired particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use ofsuperfactants. The preventions of the action of microorganisms can bebrought about by various antibacterial and antingal agents, for example,parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thirmerosal and the like.In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, forexample, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absorption of theinjectable compositions can be brought about by the use in thecompositions of agents delaying absorption, for example, aluminummonostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incorporating the activecompounds in the required amount in the appropriate solvent with variousof the other ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed byfiltered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared byincorporating the various sterilized active ingredient into a sterilevehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and the requiredother ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterilepowders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, thepreferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and the freeze-dryingtechnique which yield a powder of the active ingredient plus anyadditional desired ingredient from previously sterile-filtered solutionthereof.

When the active ingredients are suitably protected they may be orallyadministered, for example, with an inert diluent or with an assimilableedible carrier, or it may be enclosed in hard or soft shell gelatincapsule, or it may be compressed into tablets, or it may be incorporateddirectly with the food of the diet. For oral therapeutic administration,the active compound may be incorporated with excipients and used in theform of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs,suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. Such compositions andpreparations should contain at least 1% by weight of active compound.The percentage of the compositions and preparations may, of course, bevaried and may conveniently be between about 5 to about 80% of theweight of the unit. The amount of active compound in suchtherapeutically useful compositions in such that a suitable dosage willbe obtained. Preferred compositions or preparations according to thepresent invention are prepared so that an oral dosage unit form containsbetween about 0.1 ng and 2000 mg of active compound, preferably betweenabout 0.1 μg and 1500 mg and more preferably between about 1 μg and 100mg.

The tablets, troches, pills, capsules and the like may also contain thecomponents as listed hereafter: a binder such as gum, acacia, cornstarch or gelatin; excipients such as dicalcium phosphate; adisintegrating agent such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acidand the like; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; and a sweeteningagent such a sucrose, lactose or saccharin may be added or a flavouringagent such as peppermint, oil of wintergreen, or cherry flavouring. Whenthe dosage unit form is a capsule, it may contain, in addition tomaterials of the above type, a liquid carrier. Various other materialsmay be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form ofthe dosage unit. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules may be coatedwith shellac, sugar or both. A syrup or elixir may contain the activecompound, sucrose as a sweetening agent, methyl and propylparabens aspreservatives, a dye and flavouring such as cherry, orange or mango. Ofcourse, any material used in preparing any dosage unit form should bepharmaceutically purer substantially non-toxic in the amounts employed.In addition, the active compound(s) may be incorporated intosustained-release preparations and formulations.

The present invention also extends to forms suitable for topicalapplication such as creams, lotions and gels.

Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents include any and allsolvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungalagents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents and the like. The use ofsuch media and agents for pharmaceutical active substances is well knownin the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent isincompatible with the active ingredient, use thereof in the therapeuticcompositions is contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients can alsobe incorporated into the compositions. These may include immunepotentiating molecules, multimer facilitating molecules andpharmaceutically active molecules chosen on the disease conditions beingtreated.

It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions indosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage.Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete unitssuited as unitary dosages for the mammalian subjects to be treated; eachunit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculatedto produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with therequired pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the novel dosageunit forms of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on(a) the unique characteristics of the active material and the particulartherapeutic effect to be achieved, and (b) the limitations inherent inthe art of compounding such an active material for the treatment ofdisease in living subjects having a diseased condition in which bodilyhealth is impaired as herein disclosed in detail.

The principal active ingredient is compounded for convenient andeffective administration in effective amounts with a suitablepharmaceutically acceptable carrier in dosage unit form as hereinbeforedisclosed. A unit dosage form can, for example, contain the principalactive compound in amounts ranging from 0.1 ng to about 200 mg, morepreferably ranging from 0.1 μg and 1500 mg and even more preferablyranging between 1 μg and 1000 mg. Expressed in proportions the activecompound is generally present in from about 0.5 μg to about 2000 mg/mlof carrier. In the case of compositions containing supplementary activeingredients, the dosages are determined by reference to the usual doseand manner of administration of the said ingredients.

Still another aspect of the present invention is directed to antibodiesto the growth factor precursor and its derivatives. Such antibodies maybe monoclonal or polyclonal and are independent to the catalyticantibodies selected by the precursor. The (non-catalytic) antibodies torecombinant or synthetic the growth factor precursor or its derivativesof the present invention may be useful as therapeutic agents but areparticularly useful as diagnostic agents. Antibodies may also begenerated to the catalytic antibodies generated by the growth factorprecursors. All these antibodies have particular application indiagnostic assays for the growth factor or catalytic antibody inducerthereof.

For example, specific antibodies can be used to screen for catalyticantibodies. The latter would be important, for example, as a means forscreening for levels of these antibodies in a biological fluid or forpurifying the catalytic antibodies. Techniques for the assayscontemplated herein are known in the art and include, for example,sandwich assays and ELISA.

It is within the scope of this invention to include any secondantibodies (monoclonal, polyclonal or fragments of antibodies orsynthetic antibodies) directed to the antibodies discussed above. Boththe first and second antibodies may be used in detection assays or afist antibody may be used with a commercially availableanti-immunoglobulin antibody.

Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are obtainable by immunizationwith the enzyme or protein and either type is utilizable forimmunoassays. The methods of obtaining both types of sera are well knownin the art. Polyclonal sera are less preferred but are relatively easilyprepared by injection of a suitable laboratory animal with an effectiveamount of antigen, or antigenic parts thereof, collecting serum from theanimal, and isolating specific sera by any of the known immunoadsorbenttechniques. Although antibodies produced by this method are utilizablein virtually any type of immunoassay, they are generally less favouredbecause of the potential heterogeneity of the product.

The use of monoclonal antibodies in an immunoassay is particularlypreferred because of the ability to produce them in large quantities andthe homogeneity of the product. The preparation of hybridoma cell linesfor monoclonal antibody production derived by fusing an immortal cellline and lymphocytes sensitized against the immunogenic preparation canbe done by techniques which are well known to those who are skilled inthe art.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method fordetecting an antigen in a biological sample from a subject said methodcomprising contacting said biological sample with an antibody specific,for said antigen or its derivatives or homologues for a time and underconditions sufficient for an antibody-antigen complex to form, and thendetecting said complex. In this context the “antigen” may be a growthfactor, its precursor, a component thereof or a catalytic antibodyinduced thereby.

The presence of antigen may be accomplished in a number of ways such asby Western blotting and ELISA procedures. A wide range of immunoassaytechniques are available as can be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos.4,016,043, 4,424,279 and 4,018,653. These, of course, includes bothsingle-site and two-site or “sandwich” assays of the non-competitivetypes, as well as in the traditional competitive binding assays. Theseassays also include direct binding of a labelled antibody to a target.

Sandwich assays are among the most useful and commonly used assays andare favoured for use in the present invention. A number of variations ofthe sandwich assay technique exist, and all are intended to beencompassed by the present invention. Briefly, in a typical forwardassay, an unlabelled antibody is immobilized on a solid substrate andthe sample to be tested brought into contact with the bound molecule.After a suitable period of incubation, for a period of time sufficientto allow formation of an antibody-antigen complex, a second antibodyspecific to the antigen, labelled with a reporter molecule capable ofproducing a detectable signal is then added and incubated, allowing timesufficient for the formation of another complex ofantibody-antigen-labelled antibody. Any unreacted material is washedaway, and the presence of the antigen is determined by observation of asignal produced by the reporter molecule. The results may either bequalitative, by simple observation of the visible signal, or may bequantitated by comparing with a control sample containing known amountsof hapten. Variations on the forward assay include a simultaneous assay,in which both sample and labelled antibody are added simultaneously tothe bound antibody. These techniques are well known to those skilled inthe art, including any minor variations as will be readily apparent Inaccordance with the present invention the sample is one which mightcontain an antigen including cell extract, supernatant fluid, tissuebiopsy or possibly serum, saliva, mucosal secretions, lymph, tissuefluid and respiratory fluid. The sample is, therefore, generally abiological sample comprising biological fluid but also extends tofermentation fluid and supernatant fluid such as from a cell culture.

In the typical forward sandwich assay, a first antibody havingspecificity for the antigen or antigenic parts thereof, is eithercovalently or passively bound to a solid surface. The solid surface istypically glass or a polymer, the most commonly used polymers beingcellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride orpolypropylene. The solid supports may be in the form of tubes, beads,discs of microplates, or any other surface suitable for conducting animmunoassay. The binding processes are well-known in the art andgenerally consist of cross-lining covalently binding or physicallyadsorbing, the polymer-antibody complex is washed in preparation for thetest sample. An aliquot of the sample to be tested is then added to thesolid phase complex and incubated for a period of time sufficient (e.g.2-40 minutes) and under suitable conditions (e.g. 25° C.) to allowbinding of any subunit present in the antibody. Following the incubationperiod, the antibody subunit solid phase is washed and dried andincubated with a second antibody specific for a portion of the hapten.The second antibody is linked to a reporter molecule which is used toindicate the binding of the second antibody to the hapten.

An alternative method involves immobilizing the target molecules in thebiological sample and then exposing the immobilized target to specificantibody which may or may not be labelled with a reporter molecule.Depending on the amount of target and the strength of the reportermolecule signal, a bound target may be detectable by direct labellingwith the antibody. Alternatively, a second labelled antibody, specificto the first antibody is exposed to the target-first antibody complex toform a target-first antibody-second antibody tertiary complex. Thecomplex is detected by the signal emitted by the reporter molecule.

By “reporter molecule” as used in the present specification, is meant amolecule which, by its chemical nature, provides an analyticallyidentifiable signal which allows the detection of antigen-boundantibody. Detection may be either qualitative or quantitative. The mostcommonly used reporter molecules in this type of assay are eitherenzymes, fluorophores or radionuclide containing molecules (i.e.radioisotopes) and chemiluminescent molecules. In the case of an enzymeimmunoassay, an enzyme is conjugated to the second antibody, generallyby means of glutaraldehyde or periodate. As will be readily recognized,however, a wide variety of different conjugation techniques exist, whichare readily available to the skilled artisan. Commonly used enzymesinclude horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase, beta-galactosidase andalkaline phosphatase, amongst others. The substrates to be used with thespecific enzymes are generally chosen for the production, uponhydrolysis by the corresponding enzyme, of a detectable colour change.Examples of suitable enzymes include alkaline phosphatase andperoxidase. It is also possible to employ fluorogenic substrates, whichyield a fluorescent product rather than the chromogenic substrates notedabove. In all cases, the enzyme-labelled antibody is added to the firstantibody hapten complex, allowed to bind, and then the excess reagent iswashed away. A solution containing the appropriate substrate is thenadded to the complex of antibody-antigen-antibody. The substrate willreact with the enzyme linked to the second antibody, giving aqualitative visual signal, which may be further quantitated, usuallyspectrphotometrically, to give an indication of the amount of haptenwhich was present in the sample. “Reporter molecule” also extends to useof cell agglutination or inhibition of agglutination such as red bloodcells on latex beads, and the like.

Alternately, fluorescent compounds, such as fluorescein and rhodamine,may be chemically coupled to antibodies without altering their bindingcapacity. When activated by illumination with light of a particularwavelength, the fluorochrome-labelled antibody adsorbs the light energy,inducing a state to excitability in the molecule, followed by emissionof the light at a characteristic colour visually detectable with a lightmicroscope. As in the EIA, the fluorescent labelled antibody is allowedto bind to the first antibody-hapten complex. After washing off theunbound reagent, the remaining tertiary complex is then exposed to thelight of the appropriate wavelength the fluorescence observed indicatesthe presence of the hapten of interest. Immunofluorescene and EIAtechniques are both very well established in the art and areparticularly preferred for the present method. However, other reportermolecules, such as radioisotope, chemiluminescent or bioluminescentmolecules, may also be employed.

The present invention may use any number of means to clone geneticsequences encoding catalytic antibodies. For example, a phage displaylibrary potentially capable of expressing a catalytic antibody on thephage surface may be used to screen for catalysis of defined antigens.

The present invention further contemplates the use of the products ofcatalysis of a growth factor precursor to induce B cell mitogenesis togenerate catalytic antibodies to a specific antigen.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the use of agrowth factor precursor comprising an antigen to which a catalyticantibody is sought linked, fused or otherwise associated to a B cellsurface molecule binding portion in the induction of B cell mitogenesisfollowing catalytic cleavage of all or part of said antigen.

Still another embodiment of the present invention contemplates the useof an antigen linked, fused or otherwise associate to a B cell surfacemolecule binding portion in the manufacture of a growth factor precursorto induce B cell mitosis following catalytic cleavage of all or part ofsaid antigen.

The present invention is further described by the following non-limitingfigures and/or examples.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the three overlapping syntheticoligonucleotides used to generate a genetic construct encoding LHL.

FIG. 2 is a photographic representation of LEL in a bacterial lysateafter purification on a human IgG (huIgG) affinity column. First lane,uninduced; second lane, induced LHL sample; right lane, purified LHLwith size of approximately 18 kDa.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of LHL.seq carrying two affinitytags.

FIG. 4 is a photographic representation showing an LHL.seq expressionand purification analysed on a 20% w/v polyacrylamide SDS silver stainedPHAST-gel. L=recombinant DH10B lysate after o/n induction of LHL.seqexpression; S-streptavidin purified LHL.seq protein; H-huIgG purifiedLUL.seq protein; e-eluted with 1 mg/ml diaminobiotin, PBS (S) or with100 mM glycine pH2.0 (H); b-elution of LHL.seq via boiling in loadingbuffer. Purifications were performed in 1.5 ml eppendorf tubes at RT. 50μl lysate was incubated with 25 μl column matrix for 15 min. Columnmaterial was then washed twice with 500 μl PBS, 0.5% v/v Triton X-100before eluting with 50 μl solution or boiling as described. Elution ofLHL.seq from huIgG matrix is very inefficient in this particular set upalthough it is the most effective and preferred way when washing on alarger scale affinity column.

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation showing mitogenic activity of LHLon B cells. M, medium; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; Ab, anti-IgM antibody;C, induced “empty” expression vector and LHL. Y axis (0-100%):percentage of B cells expressing B7.2 after overnight incubation ofmesenteric lymphnode cells with substance shown on X axis.

FIG. 6 is a graphical representation as for FIG. 5 with the hatched barsshowing the experiment in the presence of human IgG at 500 μg/ml.

FIG. 7 is a graphical representation showing ³H-thymidine incorporationduring DNA synthesis (CPM) of the IL-2-dependent CTLL incubated withsupernatant of co-cultures as listed below. Splenocytes or mesentericlymphocytes are co-cultured with T cell hybridoma 3A9 in the presence ofM, medium; HEL, hen egg lysozyme; and LHL. The hatched bar for each ofHEL and LHL is the same experiment in the presence of human IgG (HuIgG).

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the kappa variable light chainand its two affinity tags.

FIG. 9 is a photographic representation showing kappa expressionanalysed on a 20% w/v polyacrylamide SDS PHAST-gel after silverstaining. L=total lysate of two different recombinant DH10B clonesinduced to express kappa; T=pellet after periplasmic fractionation;P=periplasmic fraction with kappa protein.

FIG. 10 is a photographic representation showing purified kappa proteinon a 20% w/v polyacrylamide SDS PHAST-gel after silver staining.w=periplasmic fraction after incubation with column material; e=eluatesusing (F) 500 mM EDTA in case of the Ca⁺⁺ dependent anti-Flag affinitycolumn or (S) 50 mM diaminobiotin in case of the streptavidin column;b=eluates from (F) and (S) derived by boiling in loading buffer.

FIG. 11 is a photographic representation of LHL purified viakappa-loaded streptavidin column as shown on a silver stained 20% w/vpolyacrylamide SDS PHAST-gel. LHL=LHL alone plus streptavidin matrix;LHL-kappa=LHL purified on the kappa-loaded streptavidin matrix;kappa=kappa alone bound to streptavidin matrix.

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the CATAB pecursor TLHL.

FIG. 13 is a photographic representation of a silver stained 20% w/vpolyacrylamide SDS PHAST-gel analysis of purified TLHL from twodifferent recombinant DH10B clones. L=total lysate; P=periplasmicfraction; e=eluted with 50 mM diaminobiotin, b=eluted by boiling inloading buffer.

FIG. 14 is a photographic representation of a silver stained 20% w/vpolyacrylamide SDS PHAST-gel of TEV cleaved TLHL. Lane one=TLHLuncleaved; lane two=TLHL cleaved with 10 units of TEV; lane three andfour=cleavage was performed in 20 μl instead of 10 μl volume as in laneone and two. The identity of the TEV protease band was confirmed inlater experiments.

FIG. 15 is a representation showing LHL.seq induced B cell activation:fsc, b7-1, b7-2 analysis by FACS. Mesenteric lymphnode cells fromC3H/HeJ were stimulated in triplicate cultures at 3×10⁵/well.Upregulation of activation markers on B cells was monitored by gating onB220⁺Thy1⁻ cells to identify B cells. Results are expressed asFACS-histogramms, showing FSC and B7-1 and B7-2 staining levels. Greylines indicate background staining from cells incubated in medium aloneand black lines show individual results. Anti IgM and anti kappa wereincluded as positive controls and LPS as a negative control.

FIG. 16 is a representation showing LHL.seq induced B cell activation:FSC, MHC Class II analysis by FACS. FACS-Analysis was performed asdescribed above. Grey lines indicate background staining from cellsincubated in medium alone and black lines show individual results. AntiIgM is positive control and LHL.seq plus huIgG as a control.

FIG. 17 is a representation showing LHL.seq induced B cell activation:dose-response analysis in proliferation assays. Mesenteric lymphnodecells from C3H/HeJ (upper panel) and splenocytes from CBA/J mice (lowerpanel) were prepared as described above. The lymphocytes were stimulatedin triplicate cultures at 1×10⁵/well in flat bottom 96-well plates incomplete RPMI+10% FCS medium at 37° C. for 2 days. Cells are pulsed forthe last 6 hours with ³H-thymidine. DNA was harvested onto glassfibrefilters and incorporation of ³H-thymidine was measured in a β-counter.Results are expressed as mean of triplicate cultures including standarddeviation.

FIG. 18 is a representation showing TLHL induced B cell activation:analysis FACS. Mesenteric lymph node cells from C3H/HeJ mice werecentrifuged in Nycodenz (1.091 g/cm³) followed by 1 hour adherence onplastic at 37° C. Lymphocytes were stimulated at 3×10⁵ cells per wellwith LPS, anti-IgM antibodies, LHL.seq, TLHL and TEV-cleaved TLHL. Onday 1 of culture cells were stained for B7-1 and B7-2. B lymphocyteswere identified by expression of B220 and lack of expression of Thy 1.2.The activation status of B cells was confirmed by the increase of theirFSC and expression of B7-2 and B7-1.

FIG. 19 is a representation showing TLHL induced B cell activation:analysis by proliferation assay 2×10⁵ splenocytes from CBA/J mice werecultured and stimulated as described. On day 2 of culture the cells werepulsed for 6hrs with ³H thymidine. The incorporation of ³H thymidine isshown in counts per minute (cpm). MED=medium alone; TEV=TEV protease;TLHL=TLHL; TLHL+TEV=TEV-cleaved TLHL; LHL=LHL.seq.

FIG. 20 is a representation showing purification of LHL-OMP on a silverstained 20% w/v polyacrylamide SDS PHAST-gel analysis of huIgG affinitycolumn purified LHL-omp from total DH10B cell lysate. LHL-omp was runnext to a molecular size marker and shows the correct molecular weightof approximately 19.5 kD.

FIG. 21 is a representation showing LHL-OMP induced B cell activation.Splenocytes of C3H/HeJ mice were centriged in Nycodenz (1.091 g/cm³)followed by 1 hour adherence on plastic at 37° C. Cells were stimulatedat 3×10⁵ per well with LPS, anti-IgM antibodies, LHL.seq at 1 μg/ml,LHL-omp at 2 μg/ml, anti CD40 mAb (clone FGK45.5) at 0.5 μg/ml, LHL-ompat 125 ng/ml and combinations of both concentrations of LHL-omp withanti-CD40. On day 1 afer stimulation cells were stained for B7-1 andB7-2. B lymphocytes were identified by expression of B220 and lack ofexpression of Thy 1.2. The activation status of B cells was confirmed byincrease of their FSC and by expression of B7-2 and/or B7-1. LHL.seqdata taken from representative experiments (for example, FIG. 18).

FIG. 22 is a representation showing LHL-OMP induced B cellproliferation. Splenocytes of C3H/HeJ mice were centrifuged in Nycodenz(1.091 g/cm³) followed by 1 hour adherence on plastic at 37° C. Cellswere stimulated at 2×10⁵ per well with LHL.seq (1 μg/ml). anti-IgMantibodies (20 μg/ml) and LHL-omp (2 μg/ml). After 2 and 3 days ofculture the cells were pulsed with ³H thymidine. ³Hthymidine-incorporation into DNA was assessed in a β-counter.

FIG. 23 is a schematic representation of ompL.

FIG. 24 is a schematic representation of Fv-catAb.

SUMMARY OF SEQ ID NOs. SEQ ID NO MOLECULE Nucleotide Amino acid LHL 1 2CATAB-TEV 3 4 TLHL 5 6 LHL.seq 7 8 FLAG epitope — 9 Kappa 10  11 LHL-omp12  13 Strep-tag — 14

EXAMPLE 1 Generation of LHL from Synthetic Oligonucleotides

LHL was generated from three overlapping synthetic oligos, a 115 mer, a116 mer and a 105 mer, using the proofreading DNA polymerase Pfu in two20 cycle PCR reactions (see FIG. 1). The two PCR products (290 bp and200 bp) were purified and blunt end cloned into the expression vectorpASK75. The sequence was verified by automated sequencing. Allsubsequent PCRs were done in a similar fashion as described in theliterature. The nucleotide and corresponding amino acid sequence for LHLis shown in SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 respectively.

EXAMPLE 2 Expression of LHL in E. coli and Purification Over a Human IgG(huIgG) Affinity Column

The expression vector pASK75 directs protein expression via the ompAsignal peptide into the periplasm of E. coli. Protein expression wasinduced with 200 ng/ml anhydrotetracycline for 16 hrs in midlog E. coliDH10B cultures. Cells were lysed and soluble LHL purified (>95%) over ahuIgG affinity column (FIG. 2). Extensive washes with 0.5% v/v TritonX-100 were performed on the affinity column in order to eliminateendotoxins from the preparations. Expression levels were estimated at 20mg per liter of culture.

EXAMPLE 3 Generation of an LHL Protein Carrying the N-Terminal FlagEpitope and the C-Terminal Strep-Tag

A form of LHL (referred to herein as “LHL.seq”) was generated by PCRcontaining the FLAG epitope at its N-terminus and the so calledstrep-tag at its C-terminus (FIG. 3). The nucleotide and correspondingamino acid sequence for LHL.seq is shown in SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8,respectively. The FLAG epitope comprises the amino acids DYKDDDDK (SEQID NO:9) and the strep-tag the amino acids AWRHPQFGG (SEQ ID NO:14). TheFLAG epitope is recognised by several anti-FLAG monoclonal antibodiesand the strep-tag by streptavidin. The strep-tag was used forpurification of LHL.seq over a streptavidin column. LHL.seq was washedwith 0.5% v/v Triton X-100, Tween20 and PBS while bound to the column inorder to minimise endotoxin levels. LEL.seq was eluted with either 100mM glycine pH2.0 or with 1 mg/ml diaminobiotin in PBS. In this methodLHL.seq was not purified on the basis of binding immunoglobulin, therebyeliminating potential contamination of other unknown bacterial proteinswhich also bind immunoglobuliis. The biological activity of LHL.seq,however, remained identical to that of LHL. The FLAG-epitope was addedto the N-terminus in order to facilitate the secretion of LHL.seq intothe periplasmic space. As in previous expression studies, this wasunsuccessful and LHL.seq needed to be purified from total bacteriallysate (FIG. 4). As a result of this, the ompA signal peptide is notremoved, which in turn led to formation of LHL.seq multimers.

EXAMPLE 4 Mitogenic Activity of LHL on B Cells

Mitogenic activity of LHL on B cells was tested in overnight cultures ofsplenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes ad well as on purified B cells.The activation status of B cells was analysed by FACS, examining B cellsize and induction of B7-2 surface expression. LHL's activation potencyis similar to LPS (10 μg/ml), a bacterial mitogenic lipopolysaccharideand anti-IgM antibody (25 μg/ml), which crosslinks surface IgM. Theresults have been independently obtained in several different mouse ste.g. B10.A(4R), CBA, C3H/HeJ and BALB/c. B cells showed a clear doseresponse to LHL when titrated in 5-fold dilutions (25 μg/ml to 1.6ng/ml) in the activation assay. The results are shown in FIG. 5.Parallel experiments analysing the T cell activation status within thesame cultures demonstrated that LHL has no effect on T cells. T cellsdid not show any blast formation nor did they upregulate activationmarkers, e.g. IL2 receptor alpha chain (CD25).

EXAMPLE 5 Blocking of LHL Mitogenicity by HuIgG

In the same experiments, soluble hulgG (500 μg/ml) which binds to the Ldomains was used to specifically block the activity of LHL. Theseresults rule out that B cell activation was due to a contamination ofthe bacterially produced LHL with endotoxins. The results are shown inFIG. 6.

EXAMPLE 6 Processing of LHL by B Cells and Presentation of the H Epitopeto the Hel-Specific Hybridoma 3A9

Splenocytes or mesenteric lymphocytes were cocultured with the T cellhybridoma 3A9 in the presence of LHL. 3A9 is specific for the HELpeptide 52-61aa presented on MHC II H-2A^(K). Upon recognition of thispeptide, 3A9 secretes IL-2. IL-2 production was measured in a bio assaywhich evaluates the proliferation of an IL-2 dependent cell line (CTLL)on the basis of ³H-thymidine incorporation during DNA synthesis (FIG.7). Presentation of H to 3A9 by B cells was clearly demonstrated by theproliferation of the CTLL and could be specifically blocked with huIgG.

EXAMPLE 7 Generation of the Variable (V)-Kappa Light Chain According tothe Human LEN Protein Sequence

The amino acid sequence of the gene encoding the human myeloma proteinLEN was used to generate a variable kappa light chain. This human kappalight chain protein (hereinafter referred to as “kappa”) is soluble atrelatively high concentrations and has been shown to bind protein L.Kappa was generated from synthetic oligonucleotides by PCR To facilitateprotein purification, a FLAG epitope was added to the N-terminus and astrep-tag to the C-terminus (FIG. 8). The nucleotide and amino acidsequence of kappa is shown in SEQ ID NO:10 and 11, respectively.

EXAMPLE 8 Expression of Kappa in E. coli DH10B

Kappa was cloned into pASK75, allowing inducible expression of kappainto the periplasmic space of E. coli. Expression was induced inlogarithmically growing cultures of E. coli strain DH10B cells with 400ng/ml of anhydro-tetracycline for >4 hrs (FIG. 9).

EXAMPLE 9 Purification of Kappa Protein from the Periplasm of DH10B

Cultures were spun down and resuspended in a buffer containing 400 mMsucrose on ice. After 20 min cells were pelleted. Kappa was thenpurified over an anti-FLAG and/or streptavidin column from theperiplasmic fraction (FIG. 10).

EXAMPLE 10 Confirmation of Proper Folding of Kappa After Purification

The proper folding of kappa was demonstrated by its capacity to bindLHL. Kappa was bound to the streptavidin column via its strep-tag Thiskappa-loaded column was then shown to bind LHL (FIG. 11). The nonstrep-tag carrying LHL did not bind to the streptavidin column alone.

EXAMPLE 11 Generation of TLHL

TLHL was generated from LHL, kappa and synthetic oligonucleotidesencoding a linker connecting kappa and LHL by PCR The linker containedan amino acid sequence corresponding to the tobacco etch virus UEV)protease recognition/cleavage site. All components were cloned intopASK75 resulting in the following protein sequence:FLAG-kappa-linker-TEV-LHL-streptag (FIG. 12). Potentially, TLHL couldshow similar characteristics as CATAB, since one kappa binding site isblocked and two are required for surface immunoglobulin cross-linking.The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of TLHL are shown in SEQ ID NO:5and SEQ ID NO:6, respectively.

EXAMPLE 12 Expression of TLHL in DH10B

TLHL expression was induced in logarithmically growing cultures byaddition of 400 ng/ml anhydro-tetracycline for >4hrs. TLHL was notsecreted into the periplasmic space and caused some cell lysis afterinduction.

EXAMPLE 13 Purification of TLHL from Total Bacterial Lysate

TLHL was purified via its strep-tag over a streptavidin column fromtotal bacterial lysate (FIG. 13). Endotoxin levels were reduced usingthe washing protocol earlier described.

EXAMPLE 14 Cleavage of TLHL into “T” and “LHL” with TEV

TLHL was designed so that the kappa portion of the protein could becleaved off by the TEV protease. The TEV cleavage would generate twopolypeptides, each of 172 amino acids. The identical size of the proteinfragments is due to TLHL not being secreted into the periplasmic spaceof E. coli and, therefore, retaining the ompA signal peptide. Incubationof TLHL with the TEV protease in PBS at room temperature or at 4° C.produced therefore, a 19kD band on an SDS-PAGE gel (FIG. 14).

EXAMPLE 15 Assembly of CATAB-TEV from TLHL and Kappa by PCR

CATAB-TFV is assembled from TLHL and kappa by PCR. The TLHL and kappacan be linked by different peptides, for example, TNF amino acids 1-31,that are potential target sites for proteolytic antibodies. In thiscase, the linker includes a recognition sequence for the tobacco etchvirus (TEV) protease which allows the generation of LHL from CATAB-TEVin vitro. The nucleotide and corresponding amino acid sequences ofCATAB-TEV are shown in SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ED NO:4.

EXAMPLE 16 Expression of CATAB in DH10B and Purification Over aStreptavidin Affinity Column Via Strep-Tag

CATAB-TEV is expressed and purified in the same way as TLIL (see above).

EXAMPLE 17 Demonstration of Non-Mitogenic Activity of CATAB-TEV on BCells

CATAB-TEV is tested in the already established B cell assays which areused to analyse the mitogenic activity of LHL and LHL.seq.

EXAMPLE 18 Revelation of the Mitogenic Activity of CATAB By ProteolyticCleavage with TEV Protease

Digestion of CATAB-TEV with the site specific protease from TEV cleavesthe covalent bond between LHL and the kappa domains. This cleavagegenerates the mitogenic compound LHL which is tested in the standardisedB cell activation assays.

EXAMPLE 19 Usage of CATAB in Several Mouse Strains of the K-Haplotype

Several mouse strains are immunised by different routes ofadministration, e.g. intra-splenic, in order to elicit a catalyticantibody response in vivo. The gld and lpr mutant strains are used asthey have been shown to have a relatively high incidence of naturallyoccurring catalytic auto-antibodies, e.g. antibodies with DNAseactivity.

EXAMPLE 20 Detection of CATAB Specific Catalytic Antibodies from theSerum

Serum antibodies from immunised mice are purified for example on a LHLaffinity column. Purified antibodies may be incubated with ¹²⁵I-labelledCATAB and the proteolytic cleavage is evaluated on PAGE gels. Inaddition, streptavidin may be used to immobilise CATAB via itsC-terminal streptag on 96 well ELISA plates. Immobilised CATAB isproteolytically cleaved by incubation with purified catalytic serumantibodies and an N-terminal affinity tag, e.g. flag epitope, is lostThis loss is detected in a sandwich ELISA assay using horse radishperoxidase (HRPO) conjugated antibodies. B cells producing catalyticantibodies can be recovered by standard hybridoma techniques and thecatalytic antibodies can be humanised by recombinant DNA technology. Forexample, “human” antibodies can be derived from humanized mice.

EXAMPLE 21 LHL.seq Induced B7-1 Expression

LHL.seq was tested for its ability to activate B cells as compared tostimulation with anti-IgM and anti-kappa Activation status was measuredby the induction of cell surface expression of the activation markersB7-1 and B7-2 and by entry of B cells into cell cycle. Levels ofexpression of B7-1 and B7-2 were determined by flow cytometry (FACS)with fluorescence labelled monoclonal antibodies while entry into cellcycle was monitored by an increase in cell size by Forward Light Scatter(FSC).

The method employed was as follows. Mesenteric lymphnode cells fromC3H/HeJ mice were centrifuged in Nycodenz (1.091 g/cm3) to remove deadcells and red blood cells (rbc). This was followed by 1 hour adherenceon plastic at 37° C. to remove adherent cells such as macrophages. Lymphnode cells were stimulated in triplicate cultures 3×10⁵/well in flatbottom 96-well plates in complete RPMI+10% FCS medium at 37° C. for 1-3days. Upregulation of activation markers on B cells was monitored bygating on B220⁻Thy1⁻ cells to identify B cells. Stimulation with LPS (20μg/ml), polyclonal F(ab)₂ anti-IgM antibodies (20 μg/ml) and anti-kappaantibodies (10 μg/ml) were included as controls. LHL.seq was used at 1μg/ml. C3H/HeJ mice were used as source of lymphocytes since thisparticular mouse strain is non-responsive to LPS. The use of this strainin combination with the LPS control effectively precludes thepossibility that B cell stimulation induced by LHL.seq were due to LPS(endotoxin) contamination of the bacterially expressed proteins.

FACS analysis showed that this two day stimulation of C3H/HeJ lymph nodecells with LPS did not result in B cell activation whereas stimulationwith either anti-IgM antibodies, anti-kappa antibodies or LHL.seq did asmeasured by an increased FSC and upregulation of B7-2. Thecharacteristic potency of LHL.seq is demonstrated by the stronginduction of B7-1 expression after incubation (see FIG. 15). Anti-IgMinduces B7-1 on day 2-3 of stimulation.

EXAMPLE 22 LHL.seq Induced MHC Class II

LHL.seq was compared in its potential to ensure proper upregulation ofMHC class II on stimulated B cells. Anti-IgM antibodies (20 μg/ml) aswell as LHL. seq (1 μg/ml) blocked with huIgG (500 μg/ml) were includedas controls. The method used was as described in Example 21.

Upregulation of MHC Class II molecules on B cells is a prerequisite toreceive T cell help in vivo.

Overnight stimulation of C3H/HeJ lymph node cells with anti-Igmantibodies as well as LHL.seq did result in increased FSC andupregulation of MHC class II. LHL.seq's activities were completelyblocked by addition of 500 μg/ml huIgG to the cultures (see FIG. 16).

EXAMPLE 23 LHL.seq Induced Proliferation in a Dose Dependent Fashion

Serial dilutions of LHL.seq were used to stimulate B cell proliferation.The experiment demonstrated that LHL.seq's biological properties aresimilar to conventional B cell mitogens like anti-IgM antibodies. Thus,dose-response curves for stimulation of either mesenteric lymphnodecells from C3H/HeJ and splenocytes from CBA/J were obtained (see FIG.17).

EXAMPLE 24 TLHL Induced B Cell Activation

LHL.seq, TLHL and TEV-cleaved TLHL were tested for their ability toactivate B cells as mered by the induction of cell surface expression ofthe activation markers B7- 1 (CD86) and B7-2 (CD80) and by entry of Bcells into cell cycle. Levels of expression of B7-1 and B7-2 weredetermined by flow cytometry (FACS) with fluorescence-labelledmonoclonal antibodies while proliferation was monitored by an increasein cell size by Forward Light Scatter (FSC) and by ³H-thymidine-uptakeassays.

The method employed as described in Example 21.

Overnight stimulation of C3H/HeJ lymph node cells with LPS did notresult in B cell activation whereas stimulation with either anti-TgMantibodies or LHL.seq did as measured by an increased FSC andupregulation of B7-2. The characteristic potency of LHL.seq isdemonstrated by the strong induction of B7-1 expression after overnightincubation (see FIG. 18). Anti-IgM induces B7-1 on day 2-3 ofstimulation.

TLHL, however, activated B cells to the same extent as LHL.seq. This wasunexpected since it was presumed that blocking one L domain with acovalently linked kappa would prevent crosslinking of immunoglobulin onthe B cell surface. Prevention of crosslinking should result in no orsignificantly lower B cell activation than that achieved with equalamounts of LHL.seq. TEV-cleaved TLHL, which results in omp-kappa (seebelow) plus the LHL.seq part, gave much lower B cell activation thanuncleaved TLHL as indicated by less B7-1 and B7-2 upregulation and lowerFSC increase (FIG. 18).

Splenocytes from CBA/J mice were centrifuged in Nycodenz (1.091 g/cm³)to remove dead cells and rbc. This was followed by 1 hour adherence onplastic at 37° C. to remove adherent cells. Splenocytes were thenstimulated in triplicate cultures at 2×10⁵/well in flat bottom 96-wellplates in complete RPMI+10% v/v FCS medium at 37° C. for 2 days. Cellswere pulsed for the last 6 hours with ³H-thymidine. DNA was thenharvested onto glassfibre filters and incorporation of ³H-thymidine wasmeasured in a β-counter.

The results obtained by FACS analysis were confirmed by theproliferation data; TLHL and LHL.seq induced equivalent B cellproliferation while TEV-cleaved TLHL was about 70% less potent (FIG.19).

EXAMPLE 25 TEV-Cleaved TLHL Stimulation Data Confirm Omp InducedMultimerisation

The B cell activation data lead the inventors to the conclusion thatboth LHL, LHL.seq and TLHL exist in solution as multimeric molecules.While dimeric or oligomeric immunoglobulin-binding molecules such asanti-IgM antibodies induce B cell activation, multimers such asanti-IgD-dextran result in a significantly higher degree of B cellactivation. This is also the case with LHL, LHL.seq and TLHL in theabove experiments as demonstrated by the extensive upregulation of B7-1after overnight culture. The multimerisation is facilitated by the ompAsignal peptide (omp). It has been published by others that the ompasignal peptide forms multimers in aqueous solution. Evidence for LHL,LHL.seq and TLHL aggregation has also been obtained in HPLC studies.

A new recombinant LHL.seq protein lacking the ompA signal peptide,called LHL-omp, was engineered which also confirms these conclusions(see below).

EXAMPLE 26 TLHL Multimerisation Overcomes “Kappa-Blocking”

Although one ‘L’ domain should be blocked by kappa in TLHL, themultimerisation mediated by the omp allows several free ‘L’ domains toexist in one multimeric molecule [TLHL]_(n). This will lead to extentivesIg crosslinking and full B cell activation as demonstrated.

EXAMPLE 27 Generation and Analysis of LHL-Omp

LHL-omp was generated from LHL.seq via PCR with the proofreadingpolymerase Pfu eliminating the ompA signal sequence.

EXAMPLE 28 Affinity Column Purification of LHL-Omp

Although LHL-omp contains a Strep-tag, it could not be purified via theStreptavidin column using the standard protocol, indicating a loweravidity to the column matrix than that of LHL.seq. This lower avidityconfirms the multimerisation of LHL.seq via omp, being the onlydifference between LHL.seq and LHL-omp. In agreement with this LHL-ompwas readily purified over a huIgG affinity column (FIG. 20).

EXAMPLE 29 LHL-Omp Induced B Cell Activation

The ability of LHL-omp to induce B cell activation was assessed byincubating splenocytes from C3H/HeJ mice for varying periods of timebefore analysing B7-1 and B7-2 expression levels on B cells as outlinedabove. The progression of B cells into cell cycle was monitored by FACSand proliferation assays.

Cells were prepared and cultured as described above. LPS (20 μg/ml) andanti-IgM (20 μg/ml) were used as controls.

Stimulation of C3H/HeJ splenocytes with LPS did not result in detectableB cell activation whereas treatment with either anti-IgM antibodies orLHL.seq induced B cell activation during overnight culture; increasedFSC and B7-2 upregulation for anti-IgM antibodies and increased FSC andB7-1 and B7-2 expression for LHL.seq. LHL-omp, used at 2 μg/ml, was lesspotent than LHL.seq in inducing upregulation of B7-1, B7-2 and blastingof B cells, as indicated by the FSC profile. The unchanged FSC profileindicated that LHL-omp did not induce B cell proliferation (see FIG.21). This was confirmed in proliferation assays (FIG. 22).

B cells were stimulated simultaneously with LHL-omp and anti-CD40antibodies (mAb FGK45.5 at a concentration of 0.5 μg/ml). Anti-CD40antibodies served as a partial substitute for T cell help. Thecombination of sIg and helper T cell like signaling achieved good levelsof B cell activation and proliferation. This could especially bedemonstrated when using LHL-omp at a concentration of 125 ng/ml. 125ng/ml induced no B cell activation on its own, however, when used incombination with the anti-CD40 antibody, which by itself is also of lowpotency, B7-1, B7-2 add FSC upregulation were achieved. Suggesting thatLHL-omp and anti-CD40 antibodies can act synergistically (see FIG. 21).

EXAMPLE 30 Utilising Omp to Design a Novel Multimeric Mitogen

Experimental data obtained show that the signal peptide from the outermembrane protein A (ompA) of E. coli induces aggregation of therecombinant proteins LHL.seq and TLHL. The ompA signal peptide (omp) isusually cleaved off once the protein reaches its destination, thebacterial periplasmic space. In the case of LHL, LHL.seq and TLHL,however, the secretion into the periplasm is impaired. All threeproteins remain in the cytoplasm and the omp peptide forms theirN-terminal part. The N-terminal omp peptide induces multimerisation asdemonstrated by the potentiation of their biological activity ascompared to the recombinant protein LHL-omp and TEV-cleaved TLHL.

The observation that omp induces multimerisation allows the design ofsimpler molecules with the same desired biological fiction as LHL, TLHLand CATAB. For this purpose we propose the following protein design.Above results demonstrate that the proteins described are not secretedinto the periplasmic space. It should therefore be possible to produceproteins that have an omp peptide as their N-terminal part and L or HLas their C-terminal part. As omp allows the formation of multimers, thisshould result in the formation of [ompL]_(n), hereafter called ompL, or[ompHL]_(n) where n is equal or larger than 2 (see FIG. 23).

EXAMPLE 31 Multimerisation of OmpL and Design of FV-CATAB

Multimerisation of ompL generates a protein complex that should allowcrosslinking of surface immunoglobulins in a similar fashion to LHL orLHL.seq. OmpL itself, however, is a relatively simple monomeric proteinwhich needs only a single blocking entity. This blocking domain will bethe below described scdsFv resulting the fusion proteinompL-linker-TEV-scdsFv (Fv-catAb). The reverse of this configuration,scdsFv-TEV-linker-Lomp (pFv-catAb) will also be generated, as this mightallow for periplasmic secretion of pFv-catAb. The latter pFv-catAbrequires the functional multimerisation and biological activity of Lomp,a protein with the reverse fusion order of ompL and the omp peptide atits C-terminal (see FIG. 24). All described recombinant proteins aretested in the experimental systems outlined above.

EXAMPLE 32 Redesign of the L Domain Blocking Entity

Two potential problems are associated with the use of the LEN kappalight chain as a blocking domain for L. First, proteins (ie. LHL,LHL.seq and TLHL) are not secreted into the periplasmic space duringexpression in E. coli, which might cause folding problems in the kappaportion. Secondly, there are no direct means of purifying proteins withpotentially correctly folded kappas in the described system, asantibodies against kappa would be bound by LHL.seq.

In order to allow for purification of correctly folded growth factorprecursors, the blocking entity was therefore redesigned. Kappa will bereplaced by a single chain (sc) antibody which is stabilised by aninternal disulfide bridge (disulfide bridge stabilised, ds). This scdsFvwill be derived from the extensively described plasmacytoma McPc603 withanti-phosphorylcholine specificity. The phosphorylcholine-bindingability will facilitate the purification of correctly folded recombinantproteins via a phosphorylcholine affinity column (see FIG. 24).

EXAMPLE 33 Potential Use of LHL/CATAB Derivatives in Humans

In order to enable production of catalytic antibodies in humans, slightmodifications of the constructs need to be performed. The ‘H’ T cellepitope has to be exchanged for an “universal T cell epitope” which willbe recognised by T cells in the majority of humans in conjunction withtheir more diverse MHC class II molecules.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention describedherein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than hosespecifically described. It is to be understood that the inventionincludes all such variations and modifications. The invention alsoincludes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referredto or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, andany and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.

14 548 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA (genomic) CDS 1..548 1ATG AAA AAG ACA GCT ATC GCG ATT GCA GTG GCA CTG GCT GGT TTC GCT 48 MetLys Lys Thr Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Gly Phe Ala 1 5 10 15ACC GTA GCG CAG GCC GCT CCG AAA GAT AAC ACG GAA GAA GTC ACG ATC 96 ThrVal Ala Gln Ala Ala Pro Lys Asp Asn Thr Glu Glu Val Thr Ile 20 25 30 AAAGCG AAC CTG ATC TTT GCA AAT GGT AGC ACA CAA ACT GCA GAA TTC 144 Lys AlaAsn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe 35 40 45 AAA GGTACC TTC GAA AAA GCG ACC TCG GAA GCT TAT GCG TAT GCA GAT 192 Lys Gly ThrPhe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu Ala Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 50 55 60 ACT TTG AAGAAA GAC AAT GGT GAA TAT ACT GTA GAT GTT GCA GAT AAA 240 Thr Leu Lys LysAsp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr Val Asp Val Ala Asp Lys 65 70 75 80 GGT TAC ACCCTG AAC ATC AAA TTC GCG GGT AAA GAA GCG ACC AAC CGT 288 Gly Tyr Thr LeuAsn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu Ala Thr Asn Arg 85 90 95 AAC ACC GAC GGTTCC ACC GAC TAC GGT ATC TTA CAG ATC AAC TCT CGT 336 Asn Thr Asp Gly SerThr Asp Tyr Gly Ile Leu Gln Ile Asn Ser Arg 100 105 110 TGG GGT GGT CTGACC CTG AAA GAA GAA GTC ACG ATC AAA GCG AAC CTG 384 Trp Gly Gly Leu ThrLeu Lys Glu Glu Val Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn Leu 115 120 125 ATC TTT GCA AATGGT AGC ACA CAA ACT GCA GAA TTC AAA GGT ACC TTC 432 Ile Phe Ala Asn GlySer Thr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe Lys Gly Thr Phe 130 135 140 GAA AAA GCG ACCTCG GAA GCT TAT GCG TAT GCA GAT ACT TTG AAG AAA 480 Glu Lys Ala Thr SerGlu Ala Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys 145 150 155 160 GAC AAT GGTGAA TAT ACT GTA GAT GTT GCA GAT AAA GGT TAC ACC CTG 528 Asp Asn Gly GluTyr Thr Val Asp Val Ala Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu 165 170 175 AAC ATC AAATTC GCG GGT TA 548 Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly 180 182 amino acids aminoacid linear protein 2 Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Val Ala LeuAla Gly Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Ala Gln Ala Ala Pro Lys Asp Asn ThrGlu Glu Val Thr Ile 20 25 30 Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser ThrGln Thr Ala Glu Phe 35 40 45 Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu AlaTyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 50 55 60 Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr ValAsp Val Ala Asp Lys 65 70 75 80 Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala GlyLys Glu Ala Thr Asn Arg 85 90 95 Asn Thr Asp Gly Ser Thr Asp Tyr Gly IleLeu Gln Ile Asn Ser Arg 100 105 110 Trp Gly Gly Leu Thr Leu Lys Glu GluVal Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn Leu 115 120 125 Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr GlnThr Ala Glu Phe Lys Gly Thr Phe 130 135 140 Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu AlaTyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys 145 150 155 160 Asp Asn Gly Glu TyrThr Val Asp Val Ala Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu 165 170 175 Asn Ile Lys PheAla Gly 180 1490 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA (genomic) CDS1..1490 3 ATG AAA AAG ACA GCT ATC GCG ATT GCA GTG GCA CTG GCT GGT TTCGCT 48 Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Gly Phe Ala 15 10 15 ACC GTA GCG CAG GCC GAC TAC AAG GAC GAT GAC GAC AAG GAT ATC GTG96 Thr Val Ala Gln Ala Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys Asp Ile Val 20 2530 ATG ACC CAG TCT CCA GAC TCC CTG GCT GTG TCT CTG GGC GAG CGT GCC 144Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala Val Ser Leu Gly Glu Arg Ala 35 40 45ACC ATC AAT TGC AAG TCC AGC CAG AGT GTT TTA TAC AGC TCC AAC AGC 192 ThrIle Asn Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser Val Leu Tyr Ser Ser Asn Ser 50 55 60 AAGAAC TAC CTG GCT TGG TAC CAG CAG AAA CCA GGT CAG CCT CCT AAG 240 Lys AsnTyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Pro Pro Lys 65 70 75 80 CTGCTC ATT TAC TGG GCA TCT ACC CGT GAA TCC GGC GTT CCT GAC CGT 288 Leu LeuIle Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly Val Pro Asp Arg 85 90 95 TTC AGTGGT AGC GGT TCT GGT ACA GAT TTC ACT CTC ACC ATC AGC AGC 336 Phe Ser GlySer Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser 100 105 110 CTC CAGGCT GAA GAT GTG GCA GTT TAT TAC TGC CAG CAG TAT TAC AGT 384 Leu Gln AlaGlu Asp Val Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Gln Gln Tyr Tyr Ser 115 120 125 ACC CCGTAC TCC TTC GGT CAG GGT ACC AAA CTG GAA ATC AAA CGC TCC 432 Thr Pro TyrSer Phe Gly Gln Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Arg Ser 130 135 140 145 GGTAGC GGT GGC GGT GGT TCT GGT GGT GGT GGG AGC TCT GGT GGT GGC 480 Gly SerGly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Gly 150 155 160 TCTGGT GGT GGT AGC GAA AAC CTG TAC TTC CAG GGT GGT AGC GCC GAA 528 Ser GlyGly Gly Ser Glu Asn Leu Tyr Phe Gln Gly Gly Ser Ala Glu 165 170 175 GAAGTC ACG ATC AAA GCG AAC CTG ATC TTT GCA AAT GGT AGC ACA CAA 576 Glu ValThr Ile Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr Gln 180 185 190 ACTGCA GAA TTC AAA GGT ACC TTC GAA AAA GCG ACC TCG GAA GCT TAT 624 Thr AlaGlu Phe Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu Ala Tyr 195 200 205 210GCG TAT GCA GAT ACT TTG AAG AAA GAC AAT GGT GAA TAT ACT GTA GAT 672 AlaTyr Ala Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr Val Asp 215 220 225GTT GCA GAT AAA GGT TAC ACC CTG AAC ATC AAA TTC GCG GGT AAA GAA 720 ValAla Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu 230 235 240GCG ACC AAC CGT AAC ACC GAC GGT TCC ACC GAC TAC GGT ATC TTA CAG 768 AlaThr Asn Arg Asn Thr Asp Gly Ser Thr Asp Tyr Gly Ile Leu Gln 245 250 255ATC AAC TCT CGT TGG GGT GGT CTG ACC AGC GCC GAA GAA GTC ACG ATC 816 IleAsn Ser Arg Trp Gly Gly Leu Thr Ser Ala Glu Glu Val Thr Ile 260 265 270275 AAA GCG AAC CTG ATC TTT GCA AAT GGT AGC ACA CAA ACT GCA GAA TTC 864Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe 280 285290 AAA GGT ACC TTC GAA AAA GCG ACC TCG GAA GCT TAT GCG TAT GCA GAT 912Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu Ala Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 295 300305 ACT TTG AAG AAA GAC AAT GGT GAA TAT ACT GTA GAT GTT GCA GAT AAA 960Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr Val Asp Val Ala Asp Lys 310 315320 GGT TAC ACC CTG AAC ATC AAA TTC GCG GGT AAA GAA AGC GGT GGC GGT 1008Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly 325 330335 GGT TCT GGT GGT GGT GGG AGC GGC GCC GGT GGT GGC TCT GGT GGT GGT 1056Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Ala Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly 340 345350 355 AGC GAA AAC CTG TAC TTC CAG GGT GGT GGC GGT GGC AGC GGC GGT GGT1104 Ser Glu Asn Leu Tyr Phe Gln Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly 360365 370 GGT GAT ATC GTG ATG ACC CAG TCT CCA GAC TCC CTG GCT GTG TCT CTG1152 Gly Asp Ile Val Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala Val Ser Leu 375380 385 GGC GAG CGT GCC ACC ATC AAT TGC AAG TCC AGC CAG AGT GTT TTA TAC1200 Gly Glu Arg Ala Thr Ile Asn Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser Val Leu Tyr 390395 400 AGC TCC AAC AGC AAG AAC TAC CTG GCT TGG TAC CAG CAG AAA CCA GGT1248 Ser Ser Asn Ser Lys Asn Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly 405410 415 CAG CCT CCT AAG CTG CTC ATT TAC TGG GCA TCT ACC CGT GAA TCC GGC1296 Gln Pro Pro Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly 420425 430 435 GTT CCT GAC CGT TTC AGT GGT AGC GGT TCT GGT ACA GAT TTC ACTCTC 1344 Val Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu440 445 450 ACC ATC AGC AGC CTC CAG GCT GAA GAT GTG GCA GTT TAT TAC TGCCAG 1392 Thr Ile Ser Ser Leu Gln Ala Glu Asp Val Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Gln455 460 465 CAG TAT TAC AGT ACC CCG TAC TCC TTC GGT CAG GGT ACC AAA CTGGAA 1440 Gln Tyr Tyr Ser Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Gly Gln Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu470 475 480 ATC AAA CGC AGC GGT AGC GCT TGG CGT CAC CCG CAG TTC GGT GGTTAA 1490 Ile Lys Arg Ser Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg His Pro Gln Phe Gly Gly *485 490 495 500 496 amino acids amino acid linear protein 4 Met Lys LysThr Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Gly Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 Thr ValAla Gln Ala Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys Asp Ile Val 20 25 30 Met ThrGln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala Val Ser Leu Gly Glu Arg Ala 35 40 45 Thr IleAsn Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser Val Leu Tyr Ser Ser Asn Ser 50 55 60 Lys AsnTyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Pro Pro Lys 65 70 75 80 LeuLeu Ile Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly Val Pro Asp Arg 85 90 95 PheSer Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser 100 105 110Leu Gln Ala Glu Asp Val Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Gln Gln Tyr Tyr Ser 115 120125 Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Gly Gln Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Arg Ser 130135 140 Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Gly145 150 155 160 Ser Gly Gly Gly Ser Glu Asn Leu Tyr Phe Gln Gly Gly SerAla Glu 165 170 175 Glu Val Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn GlySer Thr Gln 180 185 190 Thr Ala Glu Phe Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala ThrSer Glu Ala Tyr 195 200 205 Ala Tyr Ala Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn GlyGlu Tyr Thr Val Asp 210 215 220 Val Ala Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn IleLys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu 225 230 235 240 Ala Thr Asn Arg Asn Thr Asp GlySer Thr Asp Tyr Gly Ile Leu Gln 245 250 255 Ile Asn Ser Arg Trp Gly GlyLeu Thr Ser Ala Glu Glu Val Thr Ile 260 265 270 Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile PheAla Asn Gly Ser Thr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe 275 280 285 Lys Gly Thr Phe GluLys Ala Thr Ser Glu Ala Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 290 295 300 Thr Leu Lys LysAsp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr Val Asp Val Ala Asp Lys 305 310 315 320 Gly TyrThr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly 325 330 335 GlySer Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Ala Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly 340 345 350Ser Glu Asn Leu Tyr Phe Gln Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly 355 360365 Gly Asp Ile Val Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala Val Ser Leu 370375 380 Gly Glu Arg Ala Thr Ile Asn Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser Val Leu Tyr385 390 395 400 Ser Ser Asn Ser Lys Asn Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln LysPro Gly 405 410 415 Gln Pro Pro Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr ArgGlu Ser Gly 420 425 430 Val Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly ThrAsp Phe Thr Leu 435 440 445 Thr Ile Ser Ser Leu Gln Ala Glu Asp Val AlaVal Tyr Tyr Cys Gln 450 455 460 Gln Tyr Tyr Ser Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe GlyGln Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu 465 470 475 480 Ile Lys Arg Ser Gly Ser Ala TrpArg His Pro Gln Phe Gly Gly * 485 490 495 1031 base pairs nucleic acidsingle linear DNA (genomic) CDS 1..1031 5 ATG AAA AAG ACA GCT ATC GCGATT GCA GTG GCA CTG GCT GGT TTC GCT 48 Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Ile Ala IleAla Val Ala Leu Ala Gly Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 ACC GTA GCG CAG GCC GAC TACAAG GAC GAT GAC GAC AAG GAT ATC GTG 96 Thr Val Ala Gln Ala Asp Tyr LysAsp Asp Asp Asp Lys Asp Ile Val 20 25 30 ATG ACC CAG TCT CCA GAC TCC CTGGCT GTG TCT CTG GGC GAG CGT GCC 144 Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu AlaVal Ser Leu Gly Glu Arg Ala 35 40 45 ACC ATC AAT TGC AAG TCC AGC CAG AGTGTT TTA TAC AGC TCC AAC AGC 192 Thr Ile Asn Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser ValLeu Tyr Ser Ser Asn Ser 50 55 60 AAG AAC TAC CTG GCT TGG TAC CAG CAG AAACCA GGT CAG CCT CCT AAG 240 Lys Asn Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys ProGly Gln Pro Pro Lys 65 70 75 80 CTG CTC ATT TAC TGG GCA TCT ACC CGT GAATCC GGC GTT CCT GAC CGT 288 Leu Leu Ile Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr Arg Glu SerGly Val Pro Asp Arg 85 90 95 TTC AGT GGT AGC GGT TCT GGT ACA GAT TTC ACTCTC ACC ATC AGC AGC 336 Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr LeuThr Ile Ser Ser 100 105 110 CTC CAG GCT GAA GAT GTG GCA GTT TAT TAC TGCCAG CAG TAT TAC AGT 384 Leu Gln Ala Glu Asp Val Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys GlnGln Tyr Tyr Ser 115 120 125 ACC CCG TAC TCC TTC GGT CAG GGT ACC AAA CTGGAA ATC AAA CGC TCC 432 Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Gly Gln Gly Thr Lys Leu GluIle Lys Arg Ser 130 135 140 GGT AGC GGT GGC GGT GGT TCT GGT GGT GGT GGGAGC TCT GGT GGT GGC 480 Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly SerSer Gly Gly Gly 145 150 155 160 TCT GGT GGT GGT AGC GAA AAC CTG TAC TTCCAG GGT GGT AGC GCC GAA 528 Ser Gly Gly Gly Ser Glu Asn Leu Tyr Phe GlnGly Gly Ser Ala Glu 165 170 175 GAA GTC ACG ATC AAA GCG AAC CTG ATC TTTGCA AAT GGT AGC ACA CAA 576 Glu Val Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe AlaAsn Gly Ser Thr Gln 180 185 190 ACT GCA GAA TTC AAA GGT ACC TTC GAA AAAGCG ACC TCG GAA GCT TAT 624 Thr Ala Glu Phe Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys AlaThr Ser Glu Ala Tyr 195 200 205 GCG TAT GCA GAT ACT TTG AAG AAA GAC AATGGT GAA TAT ACT GTA GAT 672 Ala Tyr Ala Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn GlyGlu Tyr Thr Val Asp 210 215 220 GTT GCA GAT AAA GGT TAC ACC CTG AAC ATCAAA TTC GCG GGT AAA GAA 720 Val Ala Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile LysPhe Ala Gly Lys Glu 225 230 235 240 GCG ACC AAC CGT AAC ACC GAC GGT TCCACC GAC TAC GGT ATC TTA CAG 768 Ala Thr Asn Arg Asn Thr Asp Gly Ser ThrAsp Tyr Gly Ile Leu Gln 245 250 255 ATC AAC TCT CGT TGG GGT GGT CTG ACCAGC GCC GAA GAA GTC ACG ATC 816 Ile Asn Ser Arg Trp Gly Gly Leu Thr SerAla Glu Glu Val Thr Ile 260 265 270 AAA GCG AAC CTG ATC TTT GCA AAT GGTAGC ACA CAA ACT GCA GAA TTC 864 Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly SerThr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe 275 280 285 AAA GGT ACC TTC GAA AAA GCG ACC TCGGAA GCT TAT GCG TAT GCA GAT 912 Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser GluAla Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 290 295 300 ACT TTG AAG AAA GAC AAT GGT GAA TATACT GTA GAT GTT GCA GAT AAA 960 Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr ThrVal Asp Val Ala Asp Lys 305 310 315 320 GGT TAC ACC CTG AAC ATC AAA TTCGCG GGT AAA GAA AGC GCT TGG CGT 1008 Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe AlaGly Lys Glu Ser Ala Trp Arg 325 330 335 CAC CCG CAG TTC GGT GGT TAA TA1031 His Pro Gln Phe Gly Gly * 340 343 amino acids amino acid linearprotein 6 Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Gly PheAla 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Ala Gln Ala Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys AspIle Val 20 25 30 Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala Val Ser Leu Gly GluArg Ala 35 40 45 Thr Ile Asn Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser Val Leu Tyr Ser SerAsn Ser 50 55 60 Lys Asn Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln ProPro Lys 65 70 75 80 Leu Leu Ile Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly ValPro Asp Arg 85 90 95 Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu ThrIle Ser Ser 100 105 110 Leu Gln Ala Glu Asp Val Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys GlnGln Tyr Tyr Ser 115 120 125 Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Gly Gln Gly Thr Lys LeuGlu Ile Lys Arg Ser 130 135 140 Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly GlyGly Ser Ser Gly Gly Gly 145 150 155 160 Ser Gly Gly Gly Ser Glu Asn LeuTyr Phe Gln Gly Gly Ser Ala Glu 165 170 175 Glu Val Thr Ile Lys Ala AsnLeu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr Gln 180 185 190 Thr Ala Glu Phe Lys GlyThr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu Ala Tyr 195 200 205 Ala Tyr Ala Asp ThrLeu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr Val Asp 210 215 220 Val Ala Asp LysGly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu 225 230 235 240 Ala ThrAsn Arg Asn Thr Asp Gly Ser Thr Asp Tyr Gly Ile Leu Gln 245 250 255 IleAsn Ser Arg Trp Gly Gly Leu Thr Ser Ala Glu Glu Val Thr Ile 260 265 270Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe 275 280285 Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu Ala Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 290295 300 Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr Val Asp Val Ala Asp Lys305 310 315 320 Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser AlaTrp Arg 325 330 335 His Pro Gln Phe Gly Gly * 340 599 base pairs nucleicacid single linear DNA (genomic) CDS 1..599 7 ATG AAA AAG ACA GCT ATCGCG ATT GCA GTG GCA CTG GCT GGT TTC GCT 48 Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Ile AlaIle Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Gly Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 ACC GTA GCG CAG GCC GACTAC AAG GAC GAT GAC GAC AAG GGC GCC GAA 96 Thr Val Ala Gln Ala Asp TyrLys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys Gly Ala Glu 20 25 30 GAA GTC ACG ATC AAA GCG AACCTG ATC TTT GCA AAT GGT AGC ACA CAA 144 Glu Val Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn LeuIle Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr Gln 35 40 45 ACT GCA GAA TTC AAA GGT ACC TTCGAA AAA GCG ACC TCG GAA GCT TAT 192 Thr Ala Glu Phe Lys Gly Thr Phe GluLys Ala Thr Ser Glu Ala Tyr 50 55 60 GCG TAT GCA GAT ACT TTG AAG AAA GACAAT GGT GAA TAT ACT GTA GAT 240 Ala Tyr Ala Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp AsnGly Glu Tyr Thr Val Asp 65 70 75 80 GTT GCA GAT AAA GGT TAC ACC CTG AACATC AAA TTC GCG GGT AAA GAA 288 Val Ala Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn IleLys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu 85 90 95 GCG ACC AAC CGT AAC ACC GAC GGT TCC ACCGAC TAC GGT ATC TTA CAG 336 Ala Thr Asn Arg Asn Thr Asp Gly Ser Thr AspTyr Gly Ile Leu Gln 100 105 110 ATC AAC TCT CGT TGG GGT GGT CTG ACC AGCGCC GAA GAA GTC ACG ATC 384 Ile Asn Ser Arg Trp Gly Gly Leu Thr Ser AlaGlu Glu Val Thr Ile 115 120 125 AAA GCG AAC CTG ATC TTT GCA AAT GGT AGCACA CAA ACT GCA GAA TTC 432 Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser ThrGln Thr Ala Glu Phe 130 135 140 AAA GGT ACC TTC GAA AAA GCG ACC TCG GAAGCT TAT GCG TAT GCA GAT 480 Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu AlaTyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 145 150 155 160 ACT TTG AAG AAA GAC AAT GGT GAA TATACT GTA GAT GTT GCA GAT AAA 528 Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr ThrVal Asp Val Ala Asp Lys 165 170 175 GGT TAC ACC CTG AAC ATC AAA TTC GCGGGT AAA GAA AGC GCT TGG CGT 576 Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala GlyLys Glu Ser Ala Trp Arg 180 185 190 CAC CCG CAG TTC GGT GGT TAA TA 599His Pro Gln Phe Gly Gly * 195 200 199 amino acids amino acid linearprotein 8 Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Gly PheAla 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Ala Gln Ala Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys GlyAla Glu 20 25 30 Glu Val Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly SerThr Gln 35 40 45 Thr Ala Glu Phe Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser GluAla Tyr 50 55 60 Ala Tyr Ala Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr ThrVal Asp 65 70 75 80 Val Ala Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe AlaGly Lys Glu 85 90 95 Ala Thr Asn Arg Asn Thr Asp Gly Ser Thr Asp Tyr GlyIle Leu Gln 100 105 110 Ile Asn Ser Arg Trp Gly Gly Leu Thr Ser Ala GluGlu Val Thr Ile 115 120 125 Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser ThrGln Thr Ala Glu Phe 130 135 140 Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser GluAla Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 145 150 155 160 Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly GluTyr Thr Val Asp Val Ala Asp Lys 165 170 175 Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile LysPhe Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser Ala Trp Arg 180 185 190 His Pro Gln Phe GlyGly * 195 8 amino acids amino acid single linear DNA (genomic) 9 Asp TyrLys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys 1 5 470 base pairs nucleic acid single linearDNA (genomic) CDS 1..470 10 ATG AAA AAG ACA GCT ATC GCG ATT GCA GTG GCACTG GCT GGT TTC GCT 48 Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Val Ala LeuAla Gly Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 ACC GTA GCG CAG GCC GAC TAC AAG GAC GAT GACGAC AAG GAT ATC GTG 96 Thr Val Ala Gln Ala Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp AspLys Asp Ile Val 20 25 30 ATG ACC CAG TCT CCA GAC TCC CTG GCT GTG TCT CTGGGC GAG CGT GCC 144 Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala Val Ser Leu GlyGlu Arg Ala 35 40 45 ACC ATC AAT TGC AAG TCC AGC CAG AGT GTT TTA TAC AGCTCC AAC AGC 192 Thr Ile Asn Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser Val Leu Tyr Ser SerAsn Ser 50 55 60 AAG AAC TAC CTG GCT TGG TAC CAG CAG AAA CCA GGT CAG CCTCCT AAG 240 Lys Asn Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Pro ProLys 65 70 75 80 CTG CTC ATT TAC TGG GCA TCT ACC CGT GAA TCC GGC GTT CCTGAC CGT 288 Leu Leu Ile Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr Arg Glu Ser Gly Val Pro AspArg 85 90 95 TTC AGT GGT AGC GGT TCT GGT ACA GAT TTC ACT CTC ACC ATC AGCAGC 336 Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser100 105 110 CTC CAG GCT GAA GAT GTG GCA GTT TAT TAC TGC CAG CAG TAT TACAGT 384 Leu Gln Ala Glu Asp Val Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Gln Gln Tyr Tyr Ser115 120 125 ACC CCG TAC TCC TTC GGT CAG GGT ACC AAA CTG GAA ATC AAA CGCTCC 432 Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Gly Gln Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Arg Ser130 135 140 GGT AGC GCT TGG CGT CAC CCG CAG TTC GGT GGT TAA TA 470 GlySer Ala Trp Arg His Pro Gln Phe Gly Gly * 145 150 155 156 amino acidsamino acid linear protein 11 Met Lys Lys Thr Ala Ile Ala Ile Ala Val AlaLeu Ala Gly Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Ala Gln Ala Asp Tyr Lys Asp AspAsp Asp Lys Asp Ile Val 20 25 30 Met Thr Gln Ser Pro Asp Ser Leu Ala ValSer Leu Gly Glu Arg Ala 35 40 45 Thr Ile Asn Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser ValLeu Tyr Ser Ser Asn Ser 50 55 60 Lys Asn Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln LysPro Gly Gln Pro Pro Lys 65 70 75 80 Leu Leu Ile Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr ArgGlu Ser Gly Val Pro Asp Arg 85 90 95 Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr AspPhe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser 100 105 110 Leu Gln Ala Glu Asp Val Ala ValTyr Tyr Cys Gln Gln Tyr Tyr Ser 115 120 125 Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Gly GlnGly Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Arg Ser 130 135 140 Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg HisPro Gln Phe Gly Gly * 145 150 155 539 base pairs nucleic acid singlelinear DNA (genomic) CDS 1..539 12 ATG GAC TAC AAG GAC GAT GAC GAC AAGGGC GCC GAA GAA GTC ACG ATC 48 Met Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys GlyAla Glu Glu Val Thr Ile 1 5 10 15 AAA GCG AAC CTG ATC TTT GCA AAT GGTAGC ACA CAA ACT GCA GAA TTC 96 Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly SerThr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe 20 25 30 AAA GGT ACC TTC GAA AAA GCG ACC TCG GAAGCT TAT GCG TAT GCA GAT 144 Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu AlaTyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 35 40 45 ACT TTG AAG AAA GAC AAT GGT GAA TAT ACT GTAGAT GTT GCA GAT AAA 192 Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr Val AspVal Ala Asp Lys 50 55 60 GGT TAC ACC CTG AAC ATC AAA TTC GCG GGT AAA GAAGCG ACC AAC CGT 240 Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu AlaThr Asn Arg 65 70 75 80 AAC ACC GAC GGT TCC ACC GAC TAC GGT ATC TTA CAGATC AAC TCT CGT 288 Asn Thr Asp Gly Ser Thr Asp Tyr Gly Ile Leu Gln IleAsn Ser Arg 85 90 95 TGG GGT GGT CTG ACC AGC GCC GAA GAA GTC ACG ATC AAAGCG AAC CTG 336 Trp Gly Gly Leu Thr Ser Ala Glu Glu Val Thr Ile Lys AlaAsn Leu 100 105 110 ATC TTT GCA AAT GGT AGC ACA CAA ACT GCA GAA TTC AAAGGT ACC TTC 384 Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe Lys GlyThr Phe 115 120 125 GAA AAA GCG ACC TCG GAA GCT TAT GCG TAT GCA GAT ACTTTG AAG AAA 432 Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu Ala Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp Thr LeuLys Lys 130 135 140 GAC AAT GGT GAA TAT ACT GTA GAT GTT GCA GAT AAA GGTTAC ACC CTG 480 Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr Thr Val Asp Val Ala Asp Lys Gly TyrThr Leu 145 150 155 160 AAC ATC AAA TTC GCG GGT AAA GAA AGC GCT TGG CGTCAC CCG CAG TTC 528 Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser Ala Trp Arg HisPro Gln Phe 165 170 175 GGT GGT TAA TA 539 Gly Gly * 180 179 amino acidsamino acid linear protein 13 Met Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys Gly AlaGlu Glu Val Thr Ile 1 5 10 15 Lys Ala Asn Leu Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly SerThr Gln Thr Ala Glu Phe 20 25 30 Lys Gly Thr Phe Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser GluAla Tyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp 35 40 45 Thr Leu Lys Lys Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr ThrVal Asp Val Ala Asp Lys 50 55 60 Gly Tyr Thr Leu Asn Ile Lys Phe Ala GlyLys Glu Ala Thr Asn Arg 65 70 75 80 Asn Thr Asp Gly Ser Thr Asp Tyr GlyIle Leu Gln Ile Asn Ser Arg 85 90 95 Trp Gly Gly Leu Thr Ser Ala Glu GluVal Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn Leu 100 105 110 Ile Phe Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr GlnThr Ala Glu Phe Lys Gly Thr Phe 115 120 125 Glu Lys Ala Thr Ser Glu AlaTyr Ala Tyr Ala Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys 130 135 140 Asp Asn Gly Glu Tyr ThrVal Asp Val Ala Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu 145 150 155 160 Asn Ile Lys PheAla Gly Lys Glu Ser Ala Trp Arg His Pro Gln Phe 165 170 175 Gly Gly * 9amino acids amino acid single linear DNA (genomic) 14 Ala Trp Arg HisPro Gln Phe Gly Gly 1 5

What is claimed is:
 1. A recombinant or synthetic growth factorprecursor comprising a B cell surface molecule binding portion wherein acatalytic product of said precursor is capable of inducing B cellmitogenesis.
 2. The recombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor ofclaim 1 further comprising a portion capable of providing T celldependent help for a B cell.
 3. The recombinant or synthetic growthfactor precursor of claim 2 wherein the B cell surface molecule bindingportion comprises a B cell surface immunoglobulin binding domain and theportion providing T cell dependent help for a B cell is a T cellepitope.
 4. The recombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor ofclaim 2 wherein the growth factor precursor comprises at least two Bcell surface binding portions which facilitate cross-linking of B cellsurface binding molecules.
 5. The recombinant or synthetic growth factorprecursor of any one of claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 further comprising aportion to facilitate multimerization of said precursor.
 6. Therecombinant synthetic growth factor precursor of claim 5 wherein saidmultimer facilitating portion is a signal peptide.
 7. The recombinantsynthetic growth factor precursor of claim 6 wherein the signal peptideis from ompA or a functional equivalent thereof.
 8. The recombinant orsynthetic growth factor precursor of claim 3 wherein the B cell surfaceimmunoglobulin binding domain is protein L from Peptostreptococcusmagnus or a derivative thereof or a functional equivalent thereof. 9.The recombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor of claim 3 whereinthe T cell epitope is hen egg lysozyme (HEL) or a derivative thereof ora functional equivalent thereof.
 10. The recombinant or synthetic growthfactor precursor of claim 1, further comprising an antigen linked tosaid B cell surface immunoglobulin binding portion such that uponcleavage of said antigen or a region proximal to said antigen, saidrecombinant or synthetic growth factor induces B cell mitogenesis. 11.The recombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor of claim 10comprising an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in SEQ IDNO:2 or having at least 60% similarity thereto.
 12. The recombinant orsynthetic growth factor precursor of claim 10 comprising an amino acidsequence substantially as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 or having at least60% similarity thereof.
 13. A composition of matter capable of inducingB cell mitogenesis said composition of matter comprising componentsselected from: (i) a recombinant or synthetic molecule comprising a Bcell surface immunoglobulin binding portion; (ii) a recombinant orsynthetic molecule in multimeric form comprising a B cell surfacemolecule binding portion; (iii) a recombinant or synthetic molecule of(i) or (ii) comprising a portion providing T cell dependent help for a Bcell; and (iv) separate compositions mixed prior to use or usedsequentially or simultaneously comprising in a first composition amolecule having a B cell surface molecule binding portion and in asecond composition a molecule capable of providing T cell dependent helpfor a B cell.
 14. The composition of matter of claim 13 wherein themolecule providing T cell dependent help for a B cell is a T cellepitope or an anti-CD40 antibody or a functional equivalent thereof. 15.The recombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor of claim 1 havingthe structure: MX₁(X₂)_(b) wherein: X₁ is a B cell surface moleculebinding entity such as a B cell surface immunoglobulin binding entity;X₂ is a portion providing T cell dependent help for a B cell; M is aportion enabling or facilitating multimer formation of the recombinantor synthetic molecule; and b represents the number of X₂ molecules andmay be 0, 1 or >1.
 16. The recombinant or synthetic growth factorprecursor of claim 1 having the structure:(M)_(c)AX₁(X₂)_(d)(X₃)_(e)A(M)_(f) wherein: A is a target antigen orwhich a catalytic antibody is sought; X₁ and X₃ may be the same ordifferent and each is a B cell surface molecule binding entity; X₂ is aportion providing T cell dependent help for a B cell; M is a portionfacilitating multimer formation of the recombinant or syntheticmolecule; c and may be the same or different and each is 0, 1 or >1; eis 0 or 1 with the proviso that if both c and f are 0 then e cannot be0; d is 0 or 1 or >1; wherein a catalytic antibody on the surface ofsaid B cell is capable of cleaving all or a portion of A from saidrecombinant or synthetic molecule, wherein said resulting catalyticproduct is capable of inducing B cell mitogenesis.
 17. The recombinantor synthetic growth factor precursor of claim 1 comprising thestructure: I′AX₁X₂X₃AI″ wherein: A is a target antigen for which acatalytic antibody is sought; X₁ and X₃ may be the same or different andeach is a B cell surface molecule binding entity; I′ and I″ areoptionally present and may be the same or different and each is ablocking reagent for Xi and X₃; X₂ is a portion providing T celldependent help for a B cell; wherein a catalytic antibody on the surfaceof said B cell is capable of cleaving all or part of A from saidrecombinant or synthetic molecule resulting in the molecule(A)X₁X₂X₃(A′) wherein A′ is optionally present and is a portion of Aafter cleavage with the catalytic antibody wherein said resultingmolecule is capable of inducing T cell dependent B cell mitogenesis ofthe B cell to which X₁ and X₃ bind.
 18. A pharmaceutical compositioncomprising the recombinant or synthetic growth factor precursor of claim1 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 29 or 30 and one or more pharmaceuticallycarriers and/or diluents.
 19. The recombinant or synthetic growth factorprecursor of claim 1 which comprises the structure:(I′AX₁(X₂′)_(o)(X₂X₃AI″)_(n))_(m) wherein: I′ and I″ may be the same ordifferent and each is a blocking reagent for X₁ and X₃ such as a kappaor lambda light chain or an sc-ds-Fv; A is the target antigen for whicha catalytic antibody is sought; X₁ and X₃ are B cell surface moleculebinding entities; X₂ and X₂′ may be the same or different and each is anentity capable or providing T cell dependent help for a B cell; o may be0 or 1; n indicates the multimeric nature of the component inparentheses and may be 0, 1 or >1; m indicates the multimeric nature ofthe component in parenthesis and may be 1 or >1.
 20. The recombinant orsynthetic growth factor precursor of claim 1 which comprises thestructure: ((I′AX₂X₃)_(n)(X₂′)_(o)X₁AI″)_(m) wherein: I′ and I″ may bethe same or different and each is a blocking reagent for X₁ and X₃ suchas a kappa or lambda light chain or an sc-ds-Fv; A is the target antigenfor which a catalytic antibody is sought; X₁ and X3 are B cell surfacemolecule binding entities; X₂ and X₂′ may be the same or different andeach is an entity capable or providing T cell dependent help for a Bcell; o may be 0 or 1; n indicates the multimeric nature of thecomponent in parentheses and may be 0, 1 or >1; m indicates themultimeric nature of the component in parenthesis and may be 1 or >1.